Parents Charged In The Death Of Baby Girl
TOMS RIVER, N.J. (CBS)—According to Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato, a man and a woman were arrested and charged with one count of first degree aggravated manslaughter and second degree endangering the welfare of a child.
Giovanna Rojas, 32, and Michael Rojas, 37, have been charged as a result of an investigation into the death of their baby girl.
On August 28, 2013, patrol officers from the Toms River Police Department responded to the Community Medical Center for a report of a suspicious infant death.
Hospital staff told authorities that the parents brought the baby to the hospital around 8:30 p.m. August 27th and she was not breathing. The staff tried to revive the infant and transferred her to Jersey Shore Medical for additional treatment, but she was pronounced dead in the early morning hours of August 28th.
The baby's cause of death was determined to be exsanguination and compression trauma to the chest and abdomen. Her death was determined to be a homicide.
Before any criminal charges were filed this past Friday, Prosecutor Coronato ordered an extensive review of the child's medical history and all related documents; the medical examiner's findings and conclusions, and all information and interviews gathered by the investigators.
Giovanna Rojas is in custody in the Ocean County Jail in default of her bail set at $200,000 cash only. Michael Rojas is also being held in the Ocean County Jail in default of his bail that was set at $250,000 cash only.
The two are scheduled to be formally arraigned at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.
Anyone with any information should contact Detective Brian Haggerty of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit (732) 506-5046 or Detective Alex Scherer of the Toms River Police Department (732) 349-0150 Ext 1220.
