Somerset NJ
2-26-2025 5:58pm

Second Arrest in Child Homicide Franklin Township

FRANKLIN TWP., N.J. – Somerset County First Assistant Prosecutor Annemarie L. Mueller, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives Francisco Roman Jr., and Franklin Township Public Safety Director Quovella M. Maeweather announced the arrest of Chamyr Harris, age 26, Linden, New Jersey in relation to the death of her biological 4-year-old child which occurred in Franklin Township on Monday, February 19, 2024.

First Assistant Prosecutor Mueller stated that at approximately 3:24 p.m. on Monday, February 19, 2024, Franklin Township Police Department responded to an area hotel for the report of an unresponsive 4-year-old male child. Upon arrival, Sean Tate reported that his 4-year-old biological child fell off a toilet two days ago sustaining a head injury and hit his head on an AC unit prior to that. Tate reported that the injury from the toilet was visible, so he iced the injury before going to bed on February 19, 2024. When he woke up, Tate stated that he learned from Chamyr Harris, the child’s mother, that the child was unresponsive, and he called 9-1-1. Chamyr Harris, stated she last saw her child alive two hours earlier and reported to police that her child fell off a toilet two days ago. The child was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 5:24 p.m. Medical personnel reported that the child was emaciated and appeared to have sustained multiple injuries on his body. Detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, Special Victim’s Unit and Crime Scene Investigation Unit along with detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department responded to investigate.

First Assistant Prosecutor Mueller stated that an autopsy was conducted by the New Jersey Regional Medical Examiner’s Office. On February 4, 2025, the child’s manner of death was ruled a homicide.

As a result of this investigation, on Monday, February 24, 2025, Chamyr Harris was arrested in Woodbridge, New Jersey without incident and charged with 1st degree Murder and 2nd degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Defendant Harris was lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing on this matter.

First Assistant Prosecutor Mueller stated that a previous arrest was made in this case. On Tuesday, February 18, 2025, Sean Tate was arrested in Woodbridge, New Jersey without incident and charged with 1st degree Murder and 2nd degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Defendant Tate was lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a court date on this matter.

First Assistant Prosecutor Mueller would like to thank members of the Woodbridge Police Department, Linden Police Department and agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation Newark Field Office – Branchburg RA, for their assistance with this investigation.

First Assistant Prosecutor Mueller, Chief Roman, and Franklin Township Public Safety Director Quovella M. Maeweather request anyone with information relating to this homicide to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at (732) 873-5533 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

NOTE: The charges are merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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