Missing mother and baby daughter found dead, ex-boyfriend charged

Police say the mother and 3-month-old baby who've been missing since Friday were murdered by the woman's ex-boyfriend.

"It is with deep sadness and regret that the Vineland Police Department announces the missing person investigation has now become a double homicide and recovery investigation," Vineland police said in an announcement Wednesday morning.

Vineland Police Lt. Matt Finley said police recovered the bodies of 34-year-old Neidy Ramirez and 3-month-old Genesis Ramirez in western Cumberland County, though he didn't specify exactly where. He said the man accused of their murder — Ricardo Santiago, 34, of Millville — has been cooperating with police after coming in for questioning.

According to a 6ABC.com report, Santiago led police to the bodies. Finley didn't confirm that when asked by New Jersey 101.5.

He declined to release more details of any incident leading up to the murder or how it was conducted, saying that information would later be released by the Cumberland County Prosecutor's office.

According to Vineland police, the mother and daughter were last seen on Friday November 27, 2015 in the Vineland area. Police didn't say how they identified Santiago, of Millville, as a suspect, only that a "collaborative joint investigation between the Vineland Police Department, New Jersey State Police and Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office has identified the accused."

On Saturday, a coworker reportedly found Ramirez's abandoned 2005 Chebrolet Trailblazer on northbound Route 55 and called police.

Santiago has been charged with two counts of homicide and is lodged in Cumberland County Jail in lieu of $1,000,000 cash bail.

Authorities are asking anyone with information pertaining to the investigation to contact Vineland Police Criminal Division Main Extension 856-691-4111 ext. 4180 or the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office at 856-453-0486.