NJ Man Burned, Suffocated Girlfriend's 2-Year-Old Daughter: MCPO

TRENTON – A 25-year-old New Jersey man was arrested and charged Wednesday night with burning and suffocating his girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri reported.

A preliminary investigation indicates Maison Andres Torres of Trenton caused the girl's death by burning her with scalding water, striking her with his fists and suffocating her with his hands, according to the MCPO.

The victim, identified as Lia Victoria Merino-Rodriguez, was taken to the hospital where she was pronounced dead a short time later, according to the MCPO.

Torres is charged with first-degree murder and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, according to the MCPO. He is being held in the Mercer County Correction Center pending a detention hearing scheduled for August 27.

The incident happened at approximately 4:20 p.m. on Wednesday when Trenton police responded to a home in the 1500 block of Chestnut Avenue on a report of an unresponsive 28-month-old girl who fell down the stairs, according to the MCPO.

An autopsy was scheduled for Thursday.