NJ Dad Pleads Guilty in Infant’s Smothering Death

A southern New Jersey man has admitted smothering his infant son in their home because the child would not stop crying.

Eric Griffin pleaded guilty Tuesday to aggravated manslaughter as part of a plea deal with Burlington County prosecutors. The 26-year-old Burlington City resident faces 12 years in state prison when he's sentenced Feb. 17.

County Prosecutor Robert Bernardi says Griffin put a pillow over the face of his 4-week-old son, Nyir Griffin, in November 2010 because the child would not stop crying. He removed the pillow when the infant stopped making noise, but soon realized he was no longer breathing and left the home.

The infant's maternal grandmother later found the infant unresponsive and he was taken to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.