Parents Charged With Murder of Infant Daughter
A Lakewood, New Jersey couple has been arrested and charged with murder following the death of their three-month-old daughter from blunt force trauma to the head, authorities announced Thursday.
Ruben Santiago, 36, and Caitlin Gibson, 28, were taken into custody on May 7 and are being held at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing, according to a statement from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
Fatal Injuries Discovered After 911 Call
The investigation began on May 5 when Lakewood Township Police responded to the couple’s Pinehurst Drive home at approximately 7:20 p.m. for a report of an infant having difficulty breathing, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.
Responding officers found the infant unresponsive at the scene. Emergency medical personnel provided immediate treatment before transporting the child to Ocean University Medical Center in Brick Township. The infant was later transferred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where she was pronounced dead on May 6.
Autopsy Confirms Homicide
A post-mortem examination conducted by the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office on May 7 determined the cause of death to be “blunt force trauma to the head causing fracturing and subdural hematoma,” with the manner of death ruled a homicide, according to Shore News Network.
“A thorough investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, revealed that Santiago and Gibson – parents of the infant – were responsible for the child’s death,” the prosecutor’s office stated.
Parents Face Serious Charges
Both Santiago and Gibson are charged with first-degree murder in connection with their daughter’s death. Investigators have not publicly disclosed specific details about what led to the fatal injuries, but the medical examiner’s findings point to significant head trauma.
The case has shocked the Lakewood community, where neighbors expressed disbelief at the charges. This incident follows another recent tragedy in the area from April, when a 4-month-old died after being left inside a hot vehicle by a father who was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, according to New Jersey 101.5.
Multiple Agencies Collaborated
The investigation involved cooperation between multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit.
Authorities have not released additional details about the circumstances leading to the infant’s injuries but indicated more information may be forthcoming as the investigation continues.
