Paterson Couple charged in death of eight-month-old baby

Charlie Dwyer

Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Chief Ibrahim M. Baycora announce the arrest of Joshua Delgado, 22 years old from Paterson, New Jersey and Ashley Roman, 20 years old from Wallington, New Jersey.

Mr. Delgado and Ms. Roman were arrested on November 9, 2021 after an investigation conducted by the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Paterson Police Department.

On October 25, 2021 the Paterson Police Department contacted the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit reporting that an eight-month-old infant had been pronounced deceased at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson, New Jersey. The infant was brought to the hospital earlier that day by Ms. Roman, the child’s mother, and Mr. Delgado, who was not related to the child. Based upon the death of the infant, Prosecutor’s Office detectives opened an immediate investigation and multiple witnesses were interviewed.

On October 27, 2021, the New Jersey Regional Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the child’s death a homicide. The subsequent investigation resulted in the aforementioned charges against Mr. Delgado and Ms. Roman. The sentencing exposure on first degree Murder is thirty years to life in New Jersey State Prison with 30 years to be served before parole.


On second degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child it is five to ten years in New Jersey State Prison; on third degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child it is three to five years in New Jersey State Prison; on third degree Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute it is three to five years in New Jersey State Prison; on second degree Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute within 500 Feet of a Park it is five to ten years in New Jersey State Prison and on third degree Possession of Heroin it is three to five years in New Jersey State Prison. Mr. Delgado is currently in custody at the Bergen County Jail, and Ms. Roman is currently in custody at the Passaic County Jail. The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office has filed Motions for Pretrial Detention which will be heard by a Superior Court judge next week

Mr. Delgado is charged with first degree Murder in violation of 2C:11-3a(1); third degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child in violation of 2C:24-4a(2); third degree Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute in violation of 2C:35-5b(3); second degree Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute within 500 Feet of a Park in violation of 2C:35-7.1a and third degree Possession of Heroin in violation of 2C:35-10a(1). Ms. Roman is charged with first degree Murder in violation of 2C:11-3a(1) and second degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child in violation of 2C:24-4a(2).

Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office

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