ROCKAWAY, NJ – Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Chief of Detectives Christoph Kimker, and Rockaway Borough Police Chief Conrad Pepperman announce that Joseph Tarquini IV, 30 years old, of 67 Willow Avenue, Rockaway, NJ, has been charged in connection with the January 21, 2021 death of his 5-week-old infant daughter, M.T.
At approximately 4:55 p.m. on January 21, 2021, Joseph Tarquini IV placed a 911 call for an unresponsive infant at 67 Willow Avenue, Rockaway, NJ. Upon arrival to that residence, first responders located Tarquini and his infant daughter, who was in medical distress. M.T. was transported to St. Clare’s Denville Hospital for treatment, but was later pronounced deceased. Following an autopsy, the Morris County Medical Examiner determined the cause of the infant’s death to be acceleration / deceleration head injury and ruled the manner of death to be homicide.
On December 22, 2021, Tarquini was charged with second degree Manslaughter and second degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Tarquini was granted pretrial release under the Criminal Justice Reform Act and released from custody.
Numerous law enforcement agencies participated in this investigation, including members of the Rockaway Borough Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 973-285-6200.