UPDATE: Morris County man accused of fatally beating girlfriend’s 3-year-old son arrested
EAST HANOVER TOWNSHIP, NJ (Morris County) – Authorities are seeking information regarding 27-year-old Edwin A. Urbina with a last known address of 14-02 Clyde Potts Drive in Morristown, according to Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll.
Urbina has been charged 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 the beating death of Urbina’s girlfriend’s 3-year-old son.
On August 13, shortly after 5:00 a.m., officers from the Morristown Police Department responded to the Morristown Medical Center for a report of a 3-year-old boy in cardiac arrest. The subsequent investigation revealed that the child had sustained a number of physical injuries, Carroll said.
“Following an autopsy, Morris County Deputy Medical Examiner Dr. Carlos Fonseca, M.D. determined the manner of death to be homicide,” Carroll said.
The subsequent investigation has revealed that the fatal beating of the child occurred at the Oyo Hotel, located at 130 Route 10 West, in East Hanover, Carroll said.
It is alleged that Urbina physically beat the boy in the early morning hours of August 13 resulting in his death, and that the victim’s mother, Krystal Straw, was not present during the assault but arrived at the hotel shortly thereafter, Carroll said.
It is alleged that after her arrival, Straw transported Urbina to another location before bringing the victim to the Morristown Medical Center. Urbina allegedly instructed Straw to delete content from her cellular telephone and deny his involvement in the homicide when speaking to the police, Carroll said.
“Urbina remains a fugitive at this time. He should not be approached and is considered dangerous,” Carroll said.
Krystal Straw, 28, has been charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of children, third-degree hindering apprehension or prosecution, third-degree tampering with a witness, and fourth-degree tampering with evidence. She remains lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility pending a court appearance currently scheduled for August 18, Carroll said.
East Hanover Police Department, the Morristown Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office have assisted in the investigation.
“The investigation is active and ongoing,” Carroll said.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Edwin Urbina or any other information about this incident is encouraged to call the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 973-285-6200, the East Hanover Police Department at 973-887-0432, or Morris County CrimeStoppers at 973-267-2255. Persons reporting any information may remain anonymous. Information on how to leave an anonymous call or text message can be found at the CrimeStoppers Program website at www.morriscrimestoppers.org.
