Toddler’s Beating Death Ends In Conviction For Morris Co. Man

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — On Wednesday, a jury found Morristown resident Edwin Urbina guilty of beating his girlfriend’s 3-year-old son to death in a room at a now-closed East Hanover hotel.

Urbina, 29, could spend the rest of his life in prison after being found guilty of first-degree murder with an aggravating factor following a seven-day trial.

Urbina was also found guilty of other additional charges, including three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, three counts of hindering apprehension and two counts of tampering with a witness, Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll said.

The charges stem from the beating death of the 3-year-old son of Krystal Straw, on Aug. 13, 2021.

Officers from the Morristown Police Department responded to the Morristown Medical Center in Morristown on a report of a three-year-old boy in cardiac arrest, according to police.

An investigation later revealed that the child had suffered a number of physical injuries prior to his death. Morris County Deputy Medical Examiner Dr. Carlos Fonseca, M.D. determined the cause of death to be homicide following an autopsy. Fonsecaalso noted pre-existing injuries to the boy's ribs and wrists that predated Aug. 13.

Shaw, who waited hours after her toddler died before taking him to the hospital, pleaded guilty to seven charges relating to the murder in January, according to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office.

Morristown Medical Center staff even overheard Straw telling her 5-year-old daughter, "Do not tell anyone what happened," the night of her son's death, according to the affidavit for her arrest.

According to the affidavit, when law enforcement questioned Straw about the night of her son's death, she stated that she was alone with her son and daughter in East Hanover's Oyo Hotel, where they lived.

According to law enforcement, she denied that anyone else was present.

According to the prosecutor's office, Straw stated that she noticed her son was not breathing properly. She said she attempted CPR and then took him to the hospital, authorities said.

However, her 5-year-old daughter reported that she, the victim and Urbina were in the hotel room while Straw was at work.

Police later said that Urbina struck the boy several times on his arm, face and buttocks. According to records, the toddler died in the hotel room where Straw returned shortly after.

Following the toddler’s death, both Urbina and Straw engaged in conduct to hinder the State’s investigation including removing Urbina and his personal belongings from the OYO Hotel, deleting cell phone content, and informing the 5-year-old daughter not to speak about the incident.

Urbina's and Straw's sentencing have been scheduled before the Honorable Stephen J. Taylor, P.J.Cr. on Mar. 16, 2023, and they will both remain in custody until that time, Carroll said.