LAKEWOOD – The parents of a three-month-old girl have been arrested and charged for murdering their daughter, authorities said.
Ruben Santiago, 36, and Caitlin Gibson, 28, both of Lakewood, were charged with Murder in connection with the death of their three-month-old daughter.
Around 7:20 p.m. Monday, police arrived to a home on Pinehurst Drive regarding an infant having difficulty breathing. Officers found the infant to be unresponsive and EMS personnel and immediately began to administer medical attention.
The child was brought to Ocean University Medical Center in Brick Township, and later transferred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Jersey Shore University Medical Center (JSUMC) in Neptune.
The following day, the infant was pronounced deceased at JSUMC, authorities said.
On May 7, a post-mortem examination of the infant determined that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head causing fracturing and subdural hematoma, and the manner of death to be homicide.
Authorities determined that Santiago and Gibson – parents of the infant – were responsible for the child’s death. Both were taken into custody at Lakewood Township Police Headquarters and were subsequently transported to the Ocean County Jail where they are presently lodged pending a detention hearing.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, and Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office, for their collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation.
The charges referenced above are merely accusations and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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