Prosecutor: South Jersey Woman Accused of Setting Her Baby on Fire Faces Life in Prison if Convicted

The 22-year-old South Jersey woman who allegedly set her baby on fire in the middle of the road in January faces the prospect of life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted.

Hyphernkemberly Dorvilier, 22, of Pemberton, was indicted on one count of murder (first degree, by her own conduct) and one count of endangering the welfare of a child (second degree), Burlington County Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi announced on Tuesday.

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 Simontown Road 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.

As he was holding her down, she told him, “It’s not my baby,” 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.

Dorvilier was detained on the scene and charged with one count of murder.

Police also interviewed two additional residents of Simontown Road, who reported they had driven between the SUV and the object on fire, and identified Dorvilier as the person who was sitting in the SUV.

Dorvilier had options for dealing with an unwanted baby under New Jersey’s Safe Haven Law.

Under the law, she could have anonymously dropped the baby off at a police station or hospital.

The law states “the parents or someone acting on their behalf can bring a baby less than 30 days old to any hospital emergency room or police station. The New Jersey Department of Children and Families will take the infant into custody and place the infant with a foster or pre-adoptive home.”

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