Authorities on Monday said they were searching for a man accused of beating his girlfriend’s three-year-old son to death at a Morris County hotel, and the boy’s mother also faces charges.
27-year-old Edwin A. Urbina remained at-large after he was charged with murder, witness tampering and endangering the welfare of children, according to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.
The investigation began early August 13 when police were called to Morristown Medical Center about a child in cardiac arrest, the prosecutor’s office said. Investigators discovered the boy suffered “a number of physical injuries” and the death was ruled a homicide, officials said.
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According to authorities, Urbina beat the child at a hotel on Route 10 in East Hanover earlier that day. The boy’s mother, 28-year-old Krystal Straw, was not present during the attack, but arrived there a short time later, the prosecutor’s office said.
“It is alleged that after her arrival, Straw transported Urbina to another location before bringing the victim to the Morristown Medical Center,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement.
“It is further alleged that Urbina instructed Straw to delete content from her cellular telephone and deny his involvement in the homicide when speaking to the police,” the statement said.
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“Urbina remains a fugitive at this time. He should not be approached and is considered dangerous,” the prosecutor’s office said.
Straw was arrested on charges including endangering the welfare of children, hindering apprehension or prosecution and witness tampering, authorities said. She remained held at the county jail ahead of a court hearing set for Wednesday.
Authorities urged anyone with information about Urbina to call the prosecutor’s office Major Crimes Unit at 973-285-6200, East Hanover police at 973-887-0432, or Morris County CrimeStoppers at 973-267-2255.
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