Police reclassify death of baby Joseph Heben Jr. as malnutrition-related in July incident.
The unfortunate death of a 1-month-old baby boy on Staten Island due to severe malnutrition has been declared a homicide by the police. This tragic incident marks the second case of its kind to be reported within a month. The infant, identified as Joseph Heben Jr., was brought to a Staten Island hospital in an unconscious state on a Saturday morning in July. The authorities were alerted by hospital staff around 7 a.m., but it remains unclear who brought the baby to the hospital.
As of now, no arrests have been made, and the investigation into Joseph’s death is ongoing. The New York City medical examiner’s office determined the cause of death as a homicide, but further details have not been disclosed. The Administration for Children’s Services in New York stated that they are unable to comment on whether Joseph’s family had previous interactions with the agency due to state laws. However, upon becoming aware of the family’s situation during the summer, the agency initiated an investigation in collaboration with the police.
Efforts to reach a resident listed at Joseph’s home address for comment were unsuccessful. The circumstances surrounding this tragic event are still under investigation, and authorities are working diligently to bring justice to the infant who lost his life due to severe malnutrition.
In conclusion, the death of Joseph Heben Jr. serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and intervention in cases of child neglect and abuse. It is crucial for communities to come together to protect the most vulnerable members of society and ensure that such heartbreaking incidents are prevented in the future.
Source: The NY Times
