Hudson County Woman Charged With Endangering 5-Year-Old Son

HOBOKEN, NJ — A North Bergen mom was charged on Friday in connection with an abuse incident involving her 5-year-old son, for which a man was arrested in Hoboken last week.

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said that on Friday, detectives with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit arrested Heather Cruz, 28, of North Bergen, on charges of endangering her 5-year-old son. She was arrested in the area of 29th Street in North Bergen without incident.

Cruz has been charged with one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a second-degree crime.

As reported last week, detectives had previously arrested Ivan Sanchez, age 30, of Hoboken on charges that he abused the 5-year-old boy while in his care. Sanchez, a janitor with the Hoboken Housing Authority, was charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a second-degree crime, and Sexual Assault by Contact, a second-degree crime.

Last Monday, members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office SVU were notified by the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency about a possible child abuse case of a 5-year-old boy, the prosecutor's office said.

During the investigation, a 5-year-old boy was found to have bruises on multiple locations across his body including on his face, ear, buttocks, lower back and genitals.

Ivan Sanchez, 30 has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a crime of the second degree, and sexual assault by contact, also a second-degree crime.

According to a press release from the prosecutor's office, an investigation revealed that Cruz allegedly "failed to protect her son" during the alleged abuse.

Prosecutor Suarez credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit with the investigation and arrest.

The above charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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