Newark Mother Arrested After Child Dies, ‘Little Angel’ Mourned

NEWARK, NJ — Police arrested a Newark woman after her young daughter was found unresponsive on Monday. The child was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, authorities said.

Police responded to an apartment in the city’s South Ward, finding a 6-year-old girl “unresponsive” at the scene, according to a statement from the mayor’s office.

Emergency responders transported the child to University Hospital. She was pronounced deceased at 8:43 a.m.

The child’s mother, Zyhirah Hall, 26, was arrested Monday evening and charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

“The case is under investigation by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and details of the child’s death are not yet clear,” Mayor Ras Baraka said.

“But what is undeniably certain to us is that every child in our city deserves safety, security, and an abundance of love and laughter,” Baraka continued. “They deserve nurturing and nourishment, gentleness and generosity. Adoration and exaltation are our children’s birthright.”

“Newark mourns this little angel taken from us way too soon,” the mayor said. “And tonight, we wrap our arms around all our children, with love – and each other, in our sorrow.”

UPDATE FROM PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE

The Essex County Prosecutor's Office released additional details about the death on Wednesday.

Detectives responded to the 10-block of Stratford Place around 10:30 a.m. after getting a call about a deceased child. The cause and manner of her death is pending the results of an autopsy, prosecutors said.

An investigation continues, authorities said. Anyone with information can contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office tips line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432.

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