WALL TOWNSHIP MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO AGGRAVATED MANSLAUGHTER IN THE DEATH OF HIS INFANT DAUGHTER
" Austin Meli Who Is Already Serving A 10-Year Prison Sentence For Aggravated Assault On His Other Child Has Now Pled Guilty In The Beating Death Of His Infant Daughter."
February 14, 2022 8:32 P.M. ET By Art Fetcher Reporting For: Englebrook Independent News,
FREEHOLD, NJ.- On Thursday, February 10, 2022 Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced that 23-Year-Old Austin Meli of Wall Township, New Jersey, Pled Guilty on Thursday, February 10, 2022 to Aggravated Manslaughter for Causing the Death of his Six Week Old Infant Daughter in 2019.
On March 9, 2019, Members of The Wall Township Police Department responded to a Wall Township residence on a report of an unresponsive Six Week Old Infant Girl. Upon arrival, Police Officers found the Infant Unresponsive and in the care of her Father, Austin Meli. The Baby Girl was immediately transported to Ocean Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries and was subsequently pronounced deceased.
The subsequent investigation determined that the Infant was in the care of her Father, Austin Meli and The Medical Examiner determined that The Cause of Death to be Blunt Force Trauma and The Manner of Death to be Homicide.
Mr. Meli is facing a Prison Sentence pursuant to the terms of The Plea Agreement of Thirty Years in New Jersey State Prison and is Subject to The No Early Release Act, which will require Mr. Meli to Serve Eighty Five Percent of the term of Incarceration before becoming eligible for Parole. The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office will be recommending that this Sentence run consecutive to the Sentence he is already serving.
Mr. Meli is currently serving a Ten Year New Jersey State Prison Term for Second Degree Aggravated Assault; Second Degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child; and Fourth Degree Tampering with Evidence. This Term of Incarceration stems from Abuse to Mr. Meli's other Child. This Sentence is also Subject to The No Early Release Act.
FILED UNDER FEBRUARY 14, 2022: LAW, MONMOUTH: