Father sought for murder in NJ toddler’s drowning
Father sought for murder in NJ toddler’s drowning
WALL TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) — The fugitive father of a 2-year-old girl found dead in a car seat in a creek was charged with murder Wednesday after an autopsy showed she had drowned.
Arthur Morgan III remained at large despite a dragnet involving 13 law enforcement agencies including the FBI. Authorities believe the 27-year-old Morgan, of Ocean Township, may have left the state.
The victim, Tierra Morgan, lived in Lakehurst with her mother and was having a court-approved visit with her father on Monday, but he never took her back. The girl’s body was discovered Tuesday in Wall Township, about 20 miles north of where she lived.
The toddler was discovered by children playing in Shark River Park, said Christopher Gramiccioni, a spokesman for the Monmouth County prosecutor’s office. The children notified park rangers, who called police.
A warrant from Ocean County charging Morgan with child endangerment and interference with custody had been issued before the girl’s body was found.