Second arrest made in connection to death of 4-year-old in New Jersey

A second arrest has been made in connection to the death of a 4-year-old in New Jersey.

Authorities announced the child’s mother is now facing charges after the father was arrested last week.

Authorities say parents are responsible for 4-year-old’s death

On Monday, February 19, 2024, at approximately 3:24 p.m., Franklin Township Police Department responded to an area hotel for the report of an unresponsive 4-year-old male child.

The father told authorities that the 4-year-old boy fell off of a toilet and hit his head on an AC unit two days prior.

He said he iced the injury before going to bed and when he woke up, he learned from the child’s mother, that the child was unresponsive, so he called 911.

Officers found the unresponsive boy emaciated and with several visible injuries, authorities said.

The child was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 5:24 p.m.

Parents charged

Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office

Chamyr Harris, of Linden, N.J. and Sean Tate, of Woodbridge, N.J., have been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and second degree endangering the welfare of a child.

The parents are lodged at Somerset County Jail pending a court date.

Ongoing investigation into the 4-year-old’s death

Anyone with information relating to this homicide is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at (732) 873-5533 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allowscitizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.