Ocean County Parents Indicted for Death of Their 3-Month-Old Baby

Caitlin M. Gibson and Ruben Santiago have been indicted in the death of their daughter

Ocean County Parents Indicted for Death of Their 3-Month-Old Baby

The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office announced on Wednesday that a Lakewood couple has been charged with the May death of their 3-month-old baby.

Lakewood residents Ruben Santiago, 36, and Caitlin M. Gibson, 28, were charged with murder on Wednesday, according to prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.

According to the prosecutor's office, Lakewood police discovered an unresponsive infant after responding to a 911 call about 7:20 p.m. on May 5 regarding a baby having trouble breathing on Pinehurst Drive.

After being transported to Ocean University Medical Center in Brick, she was sent to Jersey Shore University Medical Center's pediatric intensive care unit in Neptune.

The probable cause affidavit stated that she was declared deceased just before 11 a.m. the next day.

According to the complaint, Gibson and Santiago informed the police that the infant had been experiencing diarrhea and vomiting since May 3. They took her to the hospital on May 4 and administered IV fluids before she was released.

Although she appeared better, they informed authorities that she had puked "once or twice" on May 5. Between 6 and 7 p.m. that night, Santiago changed the baby's diaper and placed her in an infant chair. According to the affidavit, Gibson contacted 911 after discovering her limp at approximately 7:20 p.m.

According to the affidavit, Rouse declared the infant's death to be a homicide because of blunt force injuries that resulted in fractures and a subdural hematoma.

According to the affidavit, Rouse also discovered that the infant had a fractured wrist and seven broken ribs, "both of which began the healing stages indicating past traumatic injury," rather than being the result of CPR attempted to save the infant's life.

The affidavit stated that Santiago provided multiple explanations for the baby's injuries, including that he had dropped a glass bottle on her head and that he had dropped the baby while he was picking her up from a bouncer, initially crouching over it before claiming to be standing at the time. He said that the infant's head struck the bouncer's metal support or possibly the TV stand, according to the document.

After receiving Santiago's testimonies, investigators told Rouse that the infant's injuries were "devastating" and "sustained from substantial force, compared to the level of force experienced by a significant motor vehicle crash," according to the affidavit.

Gibson and Santiago were ordered to stay in the Ocean County Jail until their trial.