An autopsy found that 5-year-old Diamond Smith was severely underweight and had open and healing wounds, prosecutors said.
Dominique Smith and Masceo Emanuel TRENTON — A Trenton couple were indicted last week on charges of murder and endangering the welfare of a child following the death of their 5-year-old daughter last year.
An autopsy found that 5-year-old Diamond Smith was severely underweight and had open and healing wounds, prosecutors said.
Dominique Smith and her boyfriend Masceo Emanuel were indicted by a state grand jury on one count each of murder, three counts of endangering the welfare of a child and weapons offenses.
The girl, who died in July, had hemorrhaging in four areas of her head and wounds over her eye and on her buttocks, prosecutors said. The coroner determined she died of blunt force trauma.
The couple told investigators that on July 10 the girl suffered an asthma attack, was given medication and fell asleep in the living room of their Passaic Street home, police said. When they went to bring her to bed, they found she was not breathing and called 911. She was pronounced dead at midnight.
When police searched the house, they found a belt and a large buckle. Prosecutors said that when Smith and Emanuel were questioned they told police they used the belt and buckle to discipline the girl and her 6-year-old brother.
Emanuel and Smith were charged with two counts of endangering for abuse to the girl and one count for abuse to her brother, said Casey DeBlasio, a spokeswoman for the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.
The son and the couple's newborn child, who was born after they were arrested, were taken into the protection of the Department of Children and Families. Emanuel also has a 5-year-old child who lives with his ex-girlfriend.
Smith and Emanuel remain in jail in lieu of $1 million bail each.
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