The mother and father of a New Jersey infant have been arrested and charged in her beating death, authorities announced.
Lakewood residents Ruben Santiago and Caitlin Gibson are each facing a count of first-degree murder in the death of their 3-month-old daughter, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said Thursday.
Officers with the Lakewood Police Department were called to the couple’s home along Pinehurst Drive on Monday night. When they showed up at the scene around 7:20 p.m., they found the baby girl already unresponsive and attempted life-saving techniques until additional first responders and EMS arrived.
The infant was rushed to an area hospital, and then transferred to intensive care, where she succumbed to her injuries on Tuesday.
An autopsy later determined she died from blunt force trauma. She suffered a fractured skull from repeated blows to the head, causing brain bleeding, NJ Advance Media reported.
Police said a subsequent investigation proved the girl’s parents were responsible for her death, though they did not provide further details.
They were both arrested on Wednesday and made their initial court appearance Thursday, where they did not speak. They were ordered held in Ocean County Jail until they’re due back in court on Tuesday.
