Suspect in child killing arrested in Morristown – Morristown Green

Edwin A. Urbina, wanted for Friday’s murder of a 3-year-old boy, was arrested Tuesday without incident outside the Morris County Administration and Records Building, authorities said.

The 27-year-old suspect, whose last known address was on Clyde Potts Drive in Morristown, will be lodged in the Morris County Jail, where he previously has served time in connection with an aggravated assault conviction.

Urbina turned himself in around 2:35 pm, according to people familiar with the case.

He is accused of fatally beating his girlfriend’s young son early Friday in a Route 10 hotel in East Hanover.

The girlfriend, Krystal Straw, 28, was arrested previously and is being held in the county lockup on charges of endangering the welfare of children and attempting to help Urbina cover up his alleged crime.

The Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office has declared the boy’s death a homicide.

In a statement, Morris Prosecutor Robert Carroll praised “exhaustive efforts” by police in East Hanover and Morristown, and by the county Sheriff’s and Medical Examiner’s offices, and by the Essex and Morris prosecutor’s offices.

Urbina faces charges of first degree Murder, second degree Endangering the Welfare of Children, third degree Tampering with a Witness, and fourth degree Tampering with Evidence in connection with this matter.

Authorities indicated the investigation began shortly after 5 am on Friday, when Morristown police responded to Morristown Medical Center, where a little boy was reported in cardiac arrest.

Investigators allege that Urbina had beaten the boy — whose name Morristown Green believes to be Liam — in the early morning hours at the Oyo Hotel.

Straw had arrived at the hotel soon after the alleged assault, and took Urbina to another location before taking her son to the hospital, according to authorities.

They contend that Urbina, whose nickname is “Beans,” instructed Straw to delete information from her cell phone, and to deny his complicity in the killing.

Straw was taken into custody at the hospital. She also is believed to have a 5-year-old daughter. Authorities have not released information about the girl.