NJ babysitter charged after 6-month-old dies in ‘unsanitary’ home

Authorities have charged a Woodbridge babysitter with child endangerment in connection with the death of a 6-month-old boy.

Marianne McIntire-Caulfield, 62, of the Iselin section of Woodbrige surrendered Wednesday at Woodbridge Police Headquarters, Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey and Director Robert Hubner of the Woodbridge Police Department announced in a press release.

Police said that on Dec. 1, the suspect noticed that a 6-month-old boy in her care seemed to be in distress. She called police at 4:47 p.m. EMS crews arrived and immediately transported the child to John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Edison where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

On Dec. 29 the babysitter was charged with a second degree count of endangering the welfare of a child. After turning herself in, bail was set at $100,000. The charges against McIntire-Caulfield were brought following an investigation by Detective Jorge Quesada of the Woodbridge Police Department and Detective Gregory Morris of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.

The prosecutor said McIntire-Caulfield was babysitting as many as eight infants in her Iselin home, "which was subjected to unsanitary conditions." The prosecutor's office told NJ 101.5 that all of the other children were infants, but their ages are not being released.

Authorities also would not comment on the exact conditions in the defendant's home or whether she was operating a child care business out of her residence legally. The prosecutor's office also would not say whether or not any parents of children in McIntire-Caulfield's care have come forward with complaints.

The prosecutor said in a press release Wednesday that an autopsy was performed on the infant by the Middlesex County Medical Examiner’s Office, but the results are incomplete as authorities await the results of toxicological testing.

Authorities say the investigation is continuing and they're asking anyone with any information to call Detective Quesada of the Woodbridge Police Department at 73-634-7700, ext. 2114, or Detective Morris of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-745-4054.

Toniann Antonelli is the digital managing editor for news at NJ 101.5. Reach her at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.