Conviction Upheld Against Jersey City Man Who Murdered 2-Year-Old

JERSEY CITY, NJ — The New Jersey Appellate Division affirmed the 2019 murder conviction of a Jersey City man who was found guilty of the brutal beating death of a 23-month-old boy, Bryce Sparrow, while was he was babysitting him.

Andrew Howard-French, 30, of Jersey City, is serving a life sentence and tried to appeal the conviction on various grounds – all of which the court denied.

"We are pleased with the Appellate Division’s decision in this case as this was a particularly
heinous and heartbreaking murder of an innocent child for which the defendant showed no
remorse," said Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez. "We thank the jurors who served on
this trial and the prosecutors who worked at the trial and appellate levels to ensure justice was
served."

On Tuesday, July 17, 2018, around 3:30 p.m., Jersey City Police Officers were called to 115 Van Wagenen Avenue in Jersey City on a report of a child with life- threatening injuries. The child, later identified as 23-month-old Bryce Sparrow of Jersey City, was taken to the Jersey City Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Howard-French was found guilty by a Hudson County Jury in October 2019 of first-degree
murder; second-degree endangering the welfare of a child; and third-degree endangering an injured victim.

During the course of the trial, the State presented evidence establishing that the victim suffered
multiple blunt force injuries resulting in his death. He was sentenced to life in prison for the
murder charge and an additional five years in state prison for endangering an injured victim to run consecutive to the life sentence. On the count of endangering the welfare of a child, Howard- French was sentenced to 10 years in state prison to run concurrent to the life sentence.

The life sentence is subject to the No Early Release Act which requires that Howard-French will
have to serve 85 percent of 75 years — or 63 years and 9 months — before he is eligible for
parole.