Couple Charged In Death Of Infant Daughter In Ocean County

LAKEWOOD, NJ — A Lakewood couple has been charged with murder in the death of their 3-month-old daughter, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said Thursday.

Ruban Santiago, 36, and Caitlin M. Gibson, 28, were arrested Wednesday, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. They are being held in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River pending a detention hearing.

Lakewood police responded to a 911 call about 7:20 p.m. Monday for an infant having difficulty breathing and found the baby unresponsive, the prosecutor's office said. Lakewood emergency medical technicians gave the infant medical attention and she was taken to Ocean University Medical Center in Brick, then transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, authorities said.

She was pronounced dead on Tuesday at Jersey Shore, the prosecutor's office said.

An autopsy conducted Wednesday by the Ocean County Medical Examiner's office determined the infant had suffered blunt-force trauma to the head, causing fractures and subdural hematoma, the prosecutor's office said.

Investigators from the prosecutor's office, Lakewood police and the Ocean County Sheriff's Department Crime Scene Investigation unit determined Santiago and Gibson were responsible for the baby's death, the prosecutor's office said.

The prosecutor's office did not provide additional details on the investigation.