Charges Against Union Man in Death of 7-Year Old Newark Boy Upgraded to Murder – TAPinto.net

UNION, NJ – Originally charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a Union man has now been charged with murder in connection with the death of a 7-year-old Newark boy.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodor N. Stephens announced that the death of Aydin Brown has been ruled a homicide and that the cause of death was blunt force injury. Mark Harper, 36 of Union, has been charged with the murder.

According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, on Monday, Jan. 21, shortly after 8:00 a.m., Newark police officers were dispatched to a residence on Weequahic Avenue on the report of a sick or injured child. Arriving officers observed an unresponsive child. Aydin Brown was rushed to Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark. He was pronounced dead at 9:05 a.m.

Harper has been identified as the boyfriend of Aydin’s mother.

The child’s death is being investigated by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force, which includes detectives from the Newark Police Department. The investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Prosecutor’s Tip Line at 877-847-7432.

The charge against the defendant is merely an allegation. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty.