A LAKEWOOD MAN HAS BEEN INDICTED FOR MURDER AND ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF A CHILD
" David Smith Of Lakewood, New Jersey Has Been Indicted For Murder In Connection With The Death Of His Infant Daughter."
June 25, 2021 By Art Fletcher & Morell Morand Reporting For: Englebrook Independent News,
LAKEWOOD, NJ.- On Thursday, June 24, 2021, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on Thursday, June 24, 2021, David Smith, 36, of Lakewood, New Jersey was Indicted by a Grand Jury sitting in Ocean County, New Jersey on the Charge of Murder, in connection with the death of his infant daughter in Lakewood Township, New Jersey on December 8, 2020. Mr. Smith was also Indicted on Charge of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
On December 5, 2020, Detectives from The Lakewood Township Police Department and The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Special Victims Unit responded to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, New Jersey for a report of a three-month-old infant, purportedly found to be unresponsive by her father, David Smith.
Smith claimed that he immediately called 911 upon finding the infant unresponsive. The infant was initially taken to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus by Emergency Medical Service Personnel and subsequently transferred to Bristol-Meyer Squibb Children's Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey for further evaluation and treatment.
An examination by Doctors at RWJ Hospital revealed that the infant was suffering from significant internal injuries. Further investigation by The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Major Crime Unit and The Special Victims Unit, working with The Lakewood Township Police Department Detective Bureau, determined that Smith was at the home with the infant on December 5, 2020 when she sustained her injuries.
On December 8, 2020, the infant succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at RWJ University Hospital. On December 9, 2020 The Ocean County Medical Examiner performed a post-mortem examination of the infant, and determined the cause of the death to be that of Shaken Baby Syndrome with Blunt Force Trauma to the Head, and the manner of death to be Homicide. Following a thorough and extensive investigation, Smith was identified as the individual responsible for the infant's death.
On December 9, 2020, Smith was arrested at his residence in Lakewood. He was processed at Lakewood Township Police Headquarters, and has been lodged in The Ocean County Jail since his arrest.
Prosecutor Billhimer would like to acknowledge the diligent efforts of Law Enforcement Agencies with the investigation resulting in Mr. Smith's arrest and indictment.
" The Rules Of The Court Require Us To Include A Statement, Which States: The Charges Are Merely Accusations And The Defendant And Or Defendants Presumed Innocent Unless And Until Proven Guilty Beyond Reasonable Doubt."
FILED UNDER JUNE 25, 2021: LAW, OCEAN: