South Jersey Mother Accused of Setting Her Baby on Fire to Undergo Mental Evaluation

The 22-year-old South Jersey woman who allegedly set her baby on fire in the middle of the road in January will undergo a mental evaluation and will return to court July 20, the Burlington County Times reports.

Hyphernkemberly Dorvilier, 22, of Pemberton, previously pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. At that time, the public defender representing her said she would seek insanity as a defense.

To be found not guilty by reason of insanity in New Jersey, the defendant must prove they were “laboring under a defect of reason such that he did not know the nature and quality of the act he was doing or if he did know it, that he did not know what he was doing was wrong.”

The defense must be based on a psychosis which is a disease of the mind. An anxiety neurosis is not considered a valid defense under state statute.

Claims of delusion, adjudged incompetent in civil proceedings, temporary insanity and schizophrenia will not necessarily clear a defendant. The burden is on the defendant to prove insanity.

Dorvilier faces prospect of life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted.

She has been in the Burlington County Corrections and Work Release Center in Pemberton Township on $500,000 bail since being arrested Jan. 17.

Officers from the Pemberton Township Police Department were dispatched to Simontown Road just before 11 p.m. on Jan. 16 after a resident called to report the fire in the road.

Upon arrival, police found Dorvilier being held on the ground by resident David Joseph, who had confronted her about the fire, authorities said.

Dorvilier allegedly had a can of WD-40 lubricating spray and a lighter in her jacket pocket. A green Land Rover was also parked on the scene, with the keys outside the SUV, sitting on the ground, authorities said.

Joseph told police he had a problem with illegal dumping in the area recently, and initially thought this might be related.

When he confronted Dorvilier, she said her dog had pooped in her car and she was burning it, authorities said.

After Joseph and his wife protested, Dorvilier promised to put the fire out. When she doused the fire with water, the baby began to cry, authorities said.

Dorvilier attempted to run, and Joseph caught her and held her down while his wife called the police, authorities said.

The umbilical cord and placenta were still attached to the baby, according to authorities.

The baby, later named Angel, was airlifted to Saint Christopher’s Hospital in Philadelphia and was reported to be alive and breathing at that time. The baby died approximately two hours later.

According to Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood, the baby died of smoke inhalation.

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