Robbinsville woman charged after 5-year-old girl found dead, two other children neglected
Ambulance - File Photo.

Robbinsville woman charged after 5-year-old girl found dead, two other children neglected

Posted by
1 min read
April 29, 2025
A 5-year-old girl’s tragic death has led to criminal charges and an investigation into alleged long-term neglect inside a Robbinsville home.

TRENTON, N.J. — A Robbinsville woman has been arrested and charged with four counts of endangering the welfare of a child following the death of a 5-year-old girl in her care, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office announced Monday.

Raphaelle Register, 36, was taken into custody on Monday, a day after Robbinsville Township Police responded to a home where they found the unresponsive child. The girl was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton on Sunday evening, where she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.


Key Points

  • Raphaelle Register, 36, is charged with four counts of child endangerment after a 5-year-old girl in her care died.
  • Two other children, ages 8 and 12, were also allegedly left unattended and neglected.
  • The child’s cause of death is pending autopsy and toxicology results.

Police say children were left without care, food, or medical attention

According to the prosecutor’s criminal complaint, Register had legal custody of three children—two 5-year-olds, an 8-year-old, and a 12-year-old—and allegedly left them unattended. Prosecutors allege she failed to properly feed or provide medical care to the children, potentially causing harm or neglect.

“The complaint further states that she failed to adequately feed and nourish the five-year-olds and provide access to necessary medical treatment,” the office of Mercer County Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey said.

Authorities have not released the names or conditions of the other children involved, or disclosed their current custody status.

The Middlesex Regional Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy on Monday, but the official cause and manner of death remain under investigation.

Prosecutor moves to detain Register ahead of trial

The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to keep Register in custody pending trial. Officials did not specify whether she has obtained legal representation or entered a plea.

The death and alleged neglect remain under active investigation by both the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office and the Robbinsville Township Police Department.

Officials said additional charges may be filed depending on the results of the ongoing medical and forensic examinations.

Death investigation continues amid pending medical findings

Further testing and toxicology will determine whether the death will be classified as accidental, natural, or homicide. No timeline was provided for completion of those results.

Register remains in custody awaiting a court appearance in Mercer County.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version