Boyfriend Of NJ Mom Accused Of Killing Her 4-Year-Old Child | West Orange, NJ Patch – West Orange, NJ Patch

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — An Essex County man has been accused of killing the 4-year-old daughter of his girlfriend, who was found with “blunt force trauma” in late December, authorities announced Saturday.

Jamel Welch, 21, of Orange has been charged with murder in connection with the death of Laniyah Bloodworth, 4, of Orange, according to a joint statement from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Orange Police Department.

The charges were upgraded Friday after the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office received autopsy results showing the child died from blunt force trauma. The regional medical examiner has ruled the manner of death as a homicide, authorities said.

Prosecutors released the following statement about Bloodworth’s death:

“On Thursday, Dec. 30, first responders were called to a home on the 200-block of Wallace Street in Orange on a report of an unresponsive child. The little girl was transported to University Hospital [in Newark], where she was pronounced dead at 4:25 p.m. on Dec. 30.”

“Initially, Welch, the mother’s boyfriend who was babysitting, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child after unexplained bruising was discovered on the child’s body,” prosecutors said.

Welch has since been charged with first-degree murder. He remains in custody at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark.

An investigation is ongoing. Authorities said anyone with information can contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force tips line at 1-877 TIPS- 4EC or 1-877-847-7432.

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