New Jersey – A grand jury in New Jersey 36-year-old formally indicted R. Santiiago and 28-year-old CaitIin on charges of murder in connection with the death of their chiId. The indictment follows a thorough investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office, the local police department, and other agencies, which determined that the 3-month-old died from bIunt force trauma to the head.
The investigation process began earlier this after officers responded to the family’s residence in New Jersey after receiving a report of a baby having difficulty breathing. Upon arrival, officers found the baby unresponsive. Emergency Medical Services personnel administered medical attention at the scene before transporting the child to the local Medical Center. She was later transferred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the University Medical Center, where she was pronounced deceased the following day.
An autopsy conducted by theMedical Examiner’s Office determined that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, resulting in a skuII fracture and subduraI hematoma. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.
Following the autopsy, a comprehensive investigation was launched by the Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, the local Police Department, and the Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit. The investigation revealed that both parents were responsible for the infant’s death. As a result, both were arrested and have been detained at the county jail since then.
At the hospital, the parents told investigators that their baby had been experiencing diarhea and intermittent vomiting for several days. They had even taken her to the hospital the day before her fatal injuries, where she received IV fluids. On the night of May 5, the father said he changed the baby’s diaper and put her down around 7 p.m., and she was later found unresponsive by the baby’s mom about 20 minutes later. Following their arrests, the woman reportedly refused to speak with investigators. The father, however, offered multiple explanations for what might have caused his child’s injuries, claiming he dropped a gIass bottIe on her head, dropped her while crouching, dropped her while standing, and suggesting she may have struck her head on a TV stand or the support beam of her bouncer.
The indictment marks a significant development in the case, as it formally charges the parents with murder. The legal process will now proceed toward trial, where the defendants will have the opportunity to contest the charges. The Prosecutor’s Office has emphasized that the charges are merely accusations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
3-month-old died after her dad, who cIaimed he dropped a gIass bottIe on the chiId's head and suggested she may have struck herself, and her mom, who refused to give an expIanation, infIicted fataI injuries: DA
