Father charged with the death of two-month-old infant | Paterson Times Paterson Times

Father charged with the death of two-month-old infant

By Jonathan Greene
Published: August 19, 2014

Tyreek-Saunders

A 21-year-old city man has been charged with the death of his two-month-old son a week after authorities brought forth similar charges against the underage mother, announced the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office.

Tyreek Saunders, 21-year-old, is being charged with one count of first-degree manslaughter, three counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and two counts of second-degree sexual assault, according to authorities.

Saunders and the teenager were in custody of the two-month-old infant during the morning hours of October 31, 2013. At around 8 a.m. on that Thursday the mother realized the child was not breathing. She and other members of the family called 911 for help.

Police officers and an ambulance arrived at the girl’s family home. Emergency medical personnel rushed the child to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center, but the infant died shortly after arriving at the hospital.

An autopsy of the baby resulted in medical examiner’s office finding alleged injuries on the child’s body. The medical examiner’s office declared the death a homicide triggering an investigation into the incident by the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit.

Authorities found the mother and the father responsible for the baby’s death. The mother, whose age authorities have not released, was charged last week with delinquency. If the mother was of age she would have been charged with manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child, authorities said.

The father was charged this afternoon and if found guilty could face considerable time behind bars, according to authorities. “First-degree manslaughter carries a maximum term of imprisonment of thirty years with 85% of the sentence to be served before parole; second-degree endangering the welfare of a child carries a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years and second-degree sexual assault carries a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years,” prosecutor’s office said.

Bail for Saunders is set at $500,000 with no 10-percent option, authorities said.


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