Grand jury indicts mother and father on aggravated manslaughter charges in Bayonne infant’s death
BAYONNE, NJ – The parents of a 2-month-old boy who died from blunt force injuries to his head have been arrested months after the infant’s death was ruled a homicide, with a New Jersey grand jury indicting both on aggravated manslaughter and child endangerment charges.
Jason Megaro, 27, of Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, and Jenae Vasquez, 20, of the Bronx, New York, were arrested Tuesday, Aug. 11, according to Hudson County Prosecutor Wayne Mello.
Megaro and Vasquez are the parents of the infant, prosecutors said.
Their arrests came after a grand jury returned an indictment charging each with aggravated manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child.
The case dates to March 25, when Bayonne Police were notified that an injured 2-month-old boy had been brought to Bayonne Medical Center.
The infant was subsequently transferred to University Hospital in Newark.
He was pronounced dead the following day, March 26.
The Regional Medical Examiner determined that the infant died from complications of blunt force injuries to the head.
His manner of death was ruled a homicide.
Authorities did not provide additional details about how the infant sustained the injuries or describe the specific allegations against each parent beyond the charges contained in the indictment.
The arrests took place in two states.
Megaro was arrested in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, while Vasquez was arrested in Manhattan, according to prosecutors.
Both will remain in custody pending extradition to New Jersey.
The investigation involved the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit and Special Victims Unit, Bayonne Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force, U.S. Marshals Service Middle Pennsylvania Division and Mount Carmel Police Department.
The charges are accusations, and Megaro and Vasquez are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Key Points
- Jason Megaro, 27, and Jenae Vasquez, 20, have been indicted on aggravated manslaughter and child endangerment charges in connection with the death of their 2-month-old son.
- The infant died March 26 after suffering blunt force injuries to his head, and the medical examiner ruled his death a homicide.
- The parents were arrested Tuesday in Pennsylvania and Manhattan and are awaiting extradition to New Jersey.
