Man now charged with murder in death of girlfriend’s son – New Jersey Herald

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey man is now facing a murder charge in the death of his girlfriend’s 7-year-old son.

Essex County prosecutors earlier said 36-year-old Mark Harper of Union was charged with child endangerment in Monday’s death of Aydin Brown.

Authorities have said the Harper was caring for the child, who was found unresponsive when police responded to a Newark home around 8 a.m. Monday. Brown was taken to a hospital but was pronounced dead there a short time later.

Prosecutors said Wednesday afternoon that Brown’s death had been ruled a homicide due to blunt force injury, and Harper had been charged with murder.

Harper was taken to Essex County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing; it wasn’t clear Wednesday whether he has retained an attorney.