Crime & Safety
Mom Killed Son, Left Body In Apartment For 2 Days Before Calling Police: Authorities
"I was trying to kill both of us, he died, and I didn't...He's dead and I'm alive," she told 911 operators two days after the incident.
PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — New details have emerged regarding the death of a Passaic County six-year-old, according to an affidavit from the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office.
Last month, Nakija Martin, 48, of Passaic, was accused of killing her six-year-old son and charged with endangering the welfare of a child.
Martin was specifically charged under NJ statute 2C:24-4a (1), which pertains to endangering the welfare of a child through sexual conduct. Authorities have not yet disclosed the sexual nature of the case.
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Police found Martin’s six-year-old son, only identified as G.C., dead in their Passaic apartment on July 15.
Martin told police that her son had already been dead for two days when they arrived. Officials noted that G.C. was "cold to the touch with rigor and lividity present" when they found him.
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Martin added that she called the police after she had tried to take her own life.
“My son is deceased, and I tried to kill myself at the same time, but it didn't work,” Martin, in a calm tone, according to police, told 911 operators. "I was trying to kill both of us, he died, and I didn't...He's dead and I'm alive.”
According to the affidavit, Martin had consumed a 100-capsule bottle of Tylenol PM, along with two other bottles of unnamed prescription pills, in an attempt to kill herself. She passed out after taking the drugs, police said.
“I wanted to kill us…I'm just tired,” Martin told the police. “I'm one of those people that I was going, and I was taking my baby with me.”
When police asked Martin how G.C. died, she said, “Trying to think...maybe it was pills...I mean, I choked him…something like that.”
Authorities have not yet released the autopsy report of G.C.
Martin was arrested and charged on July 29. She will remain in custody to await further court proceedings.
Martin faces up to ten years in prison for the child endangerment charge.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, dial 988 for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
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