Acting Prosecutor Carolyn Murray has announced that the cause of death of an 8 year old Irvington child was found to be homicide.
The child’s mother Venette Ovilde, 30 and friend Myriam Janvier, 23 both of Irvington, have been charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child. The mother has been additionally charged with Aggravated Manslaughter of her 8 year old daughter.
The Acting Prosecutor said that the Irvington Police Department was called to 706 Chancellor Avenue at 2:45 P.M. on Sunday afternoon, May 22, 2011 regarding a child not breathing. Upon their arrival they found the 8 year old child, not breathing. The child was pronounced dead at the scene by medics. While at the scene investigators found two siblings, a 7 year old female and a 6 year old male. Both children were taken to a hospital for observation.
Today, an autopsy was performed by the Regional Medical Examiner on the child. The cause of death was an unattended / untreated fracture of the femur in a severely malnourished child. The manner of death was ruled to be homicide.
Currently, there is an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Irvington Police Department.
The charges involved are accusations. All defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until they plead guilty or are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
