Dad Put Toddler In Plastic Bag, Charged With Attempted Murder: PD

NORTH PLAINFIELD, NJ — A father was charged with the attempted murder of his two-year-old daughter after he was seen carrying the toddler inside a plastic bag at a North Plainfield motel on Route 22, said authorities.

This past Saturday at around 12:40 p.m., Lamar S. Waller, 27, who was living at the motel, was caught on surveillance footage in the hallway of the motel carrying his child in a plastic bag before putting the bag with the child in it in front of another motel room, said Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson.

After a few minutes, Waller goes back for the bag with the child inside and tries to go back to his hotel when he is confronted by the family of the child, said Robertson.

As Waller goes into his room, the daughter's mother stops him and is able to save the toddler's life by ripping open the plastic bag and beginning CPR, said Robertson.

Witnesses called 911 and when police arrived they found Lamar holding his unresponsive two-year-old daughter. The child had a pulse with mucus could be seen coming from her nose and mouth, said Robertson.

Waller was arrested and the toddler was taken to a nearby trauma hospital for emergency treatment in critical condition. The child is stable and expected to survive.

The investigation is on-going and authorities have released no motive. The New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency were notified and investigating the matter.

Waller was charged with first-degree attempted murder and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Waller was take to the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Anyone with information relating to this incident to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Child Abuse Unit at 908-231-7100 or the North Plainfield Police Department at 908-769-2937 or via the STOPit app.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line
at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be
kept confidential.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

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