JACKSON, N.J. – The two women charged after a crash that killed a 9-month-old baby in Jackson Township will remain in the Ocean County Jail while their criminal cases move forward, a judge ruled Tuesday.
Ocean County Superior Court Judge Kimarie Rahill ordered Maria CobonGuzman, 20, of Trenton, and Ariadna Lazaro-Flores, 22, of Toms River, detained pending trial, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer.
The ruling comes after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged detainers against both women. ICE says CobonGuzman is a Guatemalan national with a removal order and Lazaro-Flores is a Mexican national who was processed for voluntary return five times in October 2023.
Judge Orders Both Women Detained Pending Trial
Rahill’s Sept. 1 orders mean both defendants will remain in the Ocean County Jail as the state criminal prosecution moves ahead.
The prosecutor’s announcement does not say Rahill specifically ruled on the ICE detainers or prohibited a future transfer to federal immigration custody. It states that both women were ordered detained in the county jail pending trial. At this time, it is not certain whether or not they will be transferred to ICE facilities before the trial.
- CobonGuzman and Lazaro-Flores were both ordered detained pending trial on Sept. 1.
- ICE has lodged immigration detainers against both women with the Ocean County Jail.
- The criminal cases stem from the Aug. 28 crash in Jackson that killed a 9-month-old child.
Does the judge’s order cancel the ICE detainers?
No such finding was announced by the prosecutor’s office. The state court ordered both women detained pending trial, while the ICE detainers remain a separate federal immigration matter.
CobonGuzman Faces Manslaughter Charge
The series of deadly events began shortly before noon Aug. 28 at North New Prospect Road and West County Line Road.
According to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, CobonGuzman was driving a Ford Fusion that struck a mother and her two children, ages 5 years and 9 months.
The baby was taken to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, where the child was pronounced dead. The mother and 5-year-old were hospitalized and initially reported in stable condition.
CobonGuzman is charged with manslaughter, two counts of assault by auto and operating a motor vehicle without ever having possessed or been issued a valid driver’s license while involved in a fatal crash.
Prosecutors previously said she had never been issued a valid driver’s license in New Jersey or any other state.
Why is Lazaro-Flores charged in the case?
Lazaro-Flores is charged with knowingly engaging in conduct creating a substantial risk of death to another. Prosecutors allege she knowingly allowed CobonGuzman to drive despite knowing CobonGuzman had never been issued a valid driver’s license.
ICE Is Seeking Custody of Both Defendants
The detention decision adds another step to a case that now involves both state criminal prosecution and federal immigration enforcement.
ICE says an immigration judge issued CobonGuzman a removal order on July 31. The agency said she will be processed for removal once she enters ICE custody.
Federal immigration authorities said Lazaro-Flores would enter removal proceedings if she comes into ICE custody. ICE says she was previously processed for voluntary return five times during October 2023.
For now, Rahill’s ruling keeps the focus on the criminal prosecution in Ocean County. Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Heisler handled the detention hearings for Billhimer’s office.
Will CobonGuzman and Lazaro-Flores remain jailed while awaiting trial?
Yes. Rahill ordered both defendants detained pending trial, according to the prosecutor’s office. The announcement did not provide a trial date.
Neither woman has been convicted. The prosecutor’s office stressed that the charges are accusations and both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Sources: Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Sept. 1 detention announcement; Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Aug. 28 charging announcement; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement statement regarding detainers lodged against Maria CobonGuzman and Ariadna Lazaro-Flores
