Crime & Safety
Camden Man Charged With Murder in Nine-Week-Old Son's Death
Jonathan Garrett Sr., 30, was arraigned on one count of aggravated manslaughter in the Feb. 1 death of his son.
A Camden man has been charged with murder in connection with the death of his nine-week old son, Camden County Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo and Camden County Police Chief Scott Thomson announced Tuesday evening.
Jonathan Garrett Sr., 30, was arraigned Tuesday on one count of aggravated manslaughter for the killing of nine-week-old Jonathan Garrett Jr.
Camden County Police responded to Garrett’s apartment on the 1300 block of Princess Avenue in Camden around 5:35 p.m. Feb. 1 for a report of an infant not breathing.
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Garrett was home alone with his son and had been the boy’s sole caretaker since about 9 p.m. Jan. 31, while the infant’s mother was working an overnight shift.
The infant was transported to Cooper University Hospital and was initially diagnosed with a subdural hematoma, possible brain death, a collapsed left lung and unstable blood pressure and heart rate.
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He later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 5:36 a.m. Feb. 2.
Later that day, Gloucester-Camden-Salem Regional Medical Examiner Gerald Feigin performed a post mortem examination on the child and initially determined cause and manner of death would be “pending” until additional studies were obtained.
Further examination by a neuropathologist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and a doctor at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia revealed hemorrhages on the infant’s brain, spine and eyes as well as retinal detachment.
On Feb. 14, Dr. Feigin determined the cause of the infant’s death was blunt head trauma and ruled the manner of his death was homicide.
Homicide detectives and prosecutors consulted Oct. 21 with the neuropathologist who examined the child’s brain and spine, and were advised the child’s injuries indicated he had been shaken.
Garrett was interviewed several times by investigators and acknowledged he was the sole caretaker for his son from 9 pm Jan. 31 until he called 9-1-1. He was unable to provide an explanation for the infant’s injuries.
Garrett’s bail was set at $200,000.
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