NJ mom and dad both charged with murder of 4-year-old

​​⭕ NJ mom charged with murder of child
​​⭕ Other children say dad beat son to death
​​⭕ Victim was repeatedly hurt, autopsy shows

Both New Jersey parents have now been charged with the first-degree murder of a four-year-old boy, after the young victim’s brutal death in Somerset County.

Chamyr Harris, 26, of Linden, was taken into custody on Monday — nearly a week after the arrest of 36-year-old Woodbridge resident Sean Tate.

Earlier this month, the child’s death one year ago was ruled to be a homicide, based on grim autopsy results.

The preschool-aged boy was rushed to a local hospital from a Franklin Township hotel on Feb. 19, 2024.

Harris, Tate and six other children were within the Homewood Suites hotel room when first responders arrived to take their sibling for emergency care.

The victim was pronounced dead two hours later.

At least four of those children later told investigators that Tate had beaten the child until his death, a criminal complaint said.

SEE ALSO: NJ man charged with murder of his 4-year-old son, year later 

Medical personnel at the hospital immediately saw that the victim was "emaciated," weighing just 24 pounds. That is lower than the average weight for a 4-year-old, based on CDC growth charts.

Read More: NJ man accused of killing younger brother, 26, and cat

The medical examiner later confirmed that the child had “suffered from extreme weight loss and muscle wasting,” with internal injuries.

The boy had suffered numerous head injuries, the examiner ultimately found, with wounds both fresh and old to his face, neck, torso and arms and legs.

His mouth also showed injuries consistent with smothering, the autopsy found.

In addition to first-degree murder, Harris and Tate have also been charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office has thanked police in Woodbridge and Linden, as well as FBI agents from the Newark field office, for supporting the investigation.

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