SOMERVILLE, NJ (Somerset County) – A Somerset County mother was found guilty in the killing of 4-year-old son, according to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.
Elina Gutti, 38, of South Bound Brook received a bench trial during the weeks of Dec. 4 and Dec. 11 before the Honorable Julie M. Marino, J.S.C., McDonald siad.
On Dec. 19, Judge Marino found Gutti guilty of all three counts of Indictment charging her with first-degree murder with the aggravating factor that she committed the murder by her own conduct to a victim under the age of 14, McDonald said.
On Feb. 6, 2021, at around 2:28 a.m. Somerset County Communications received a 9-1-1 call for help from an individual identifying herself as Gutti. She reported that she had woken up to find her wrist cut and was uncertain as to the cause of her injuries, McDonald said.
When the responding South Bound Brook Patrol Officers arrived on scene, it was determined that Gutti’s injuries were minor and did not require immediate medical attention, McDonald said.
During the ensuing investigation into the cause of Gutti’s injuries, the responding patrol officers located her 4-year-old son, dead, inside her bedroom with what was determined to be over 17 incised wounds to his neck area. A kitchen knife located on the floor of her bedroom was determined to be the murder weapon, McDonald said.
The New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office conducted a post-mortem examination which determined the cause of death to be the result of multiple incised wounds to his neck area and the manner of death to be homicide, McDonald said.
