Man Taken into Custody in Connection with Murder of 3 Year Old Child

Published on August 17, 2021

Morristown Man Taken into Custody in Connection with Murder of Three Year Old Child  

Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Chief of Detectives Christoph Kimker, Morris County Sheriff James Gannon, and East Hanover Chief of Police Christopher Cannizzo announce the apprehension of Edwin A. Urbina (DOB 10/14/1993) with a last known address of 14-02 Clyde Potts Drive, Morristown, NJ. Urbina was previously charged by complaint-warrant with first degree Murder, second degree Endangering the Welfare of Children, third degree Tampering with a Witness, and fourth degree Tampering with Evidence in connection with this matter.  These charges arise in connection with the beating death of Urbina’s girlfriend’s three year old son.

On August 13, 2021, shortly after 5:00AM, officers from the Morristown Police Department responded to the Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ on a report of a three year old male in cardiac arrest.  The subsequent investigation revealed that the child had sustained a number of physical injuries.  Following an autopsy, Morris County Deputy Medical Examiner Dr. Carlos Fonseca, M.D. determined the manner of death to be homicide.

The subsequent investigation has revealed that the fatal beating of the child occurred at the Oyo Hotel, 130 Rt. 10 West in East Hanover, NJ.  It is alleged that Urbina physically beat the three year old boy in the early morning hours of August 13, 2021, resulting in the boy’s death, and that the victim’s mother, Krystal Straw, was not present during the assault, but arrived at the hotel shortly thereafter.  It is alleged that after her arrival, Straw transported Urbina to another location before bringing the victim to the Morristown Medical Center.  It is further alleged that Urbina instructed Straw to delete content from her cellular telephone and deny his involvement in the homicide when speaking to the police.

On August 17, 2021, Urbina was taken into custody without incident outside the Morris County Records and Administration Building in Morristown, NJ.  He will be lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility pending a first appearance in court.

Straw was previously charged and arrested in connection with this incident.  She remains lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility pending a court appearance currently scheduled for August 18, 2021

The Prosecutor noted the exhaustive efforts of the East Hanover Police Department, the Morristown Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office in working together to investigate this incident leading to the arrests of the suspects.  

A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite the accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he or she has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Any press inquiries should be directed to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office at [email protected]

 

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