New Jersey man arrested in deadly attack on sleeping kids

Monday, September 3, 2012

TRENTON, New Jersey (AP) — A man high on PCP-laced marijuana stabbed two neighborhood children in their home while they slept, killing a 6-year-old boy and critically wounding his 12-year-old sister, authorities said.

Osvaldo Rivera was found hiding between a mattress and a bedroom wall Sunday afternoon inside a Camden apartment and was charged Monday with murder and attempted murder, said Jason Laughlin, a spokesman for the Camden County prosecutor's office.

The attack was the second recent one in Camden, an impoverished city across the river from Philadelphia, involving a child and a suspect said to be high on PCP and marijuana.

Rivera, 31, was being held in jail awaiting arraignment, which Laughlin said will likely be held Tuesday. Laughlin didn't know if Rivera had an attorney.

Police found blood-stained sneakers inside the apartment where Rivera was arrested that matched bloody footprints in the home where Dominick Andujor was stabbed to death, Laughlin said. The boy's 12-year-old sister had her throat slit while she slept in another room. She remained hospitalized Monday at Cooper University Hospital in Camden. The hospital, though, has declined to discuss her condition, citing privacy reasons.

While being questioned by investigators, Rivera said he had smoked a combination of marijuana and the hallucinogenic drug PCP before the attack, Laughlin said.

On Aug. 22, 33-year-old Chevonne Thomas of Camden allegedly decapitated her 2-year-old toddler and then fatally stabbed herself after smoking a similar combination, known as "wet."

Laughlin said there have been several other murders in recent years in which PCP-laced marijuana has apparently played a role. He said the drug combination makes people incoherent, hallucinatory and, in some cases, violent, adding that authorities plan to take steps to curb the drug's market.

The children stabbed Sunday were being watched by a 14-year-old girl, authorities said. The teen, who was unharmed, was caring for them because their mother recently underwent surgery and was still in the hospital.

Laughlin said the 12-year-old, whose name wasn't released, fled the home after the attack and was found at a neighbor's home a few doors down. Police soon went to the girl's home and were met by another child who ran outside, screaming for help for her brother. The 6-year-old boy was found lying on the floor.

While Rivera was still being sought on Sunday, a woman who lives nearby said he was well-known around the neighborhood and seemed to be a peaceful person. He also was often seen playing with the local children.

"People would never think he would do something like this," Nakyta McCray said.

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New Jersey police seek answers in attack on sleeping kids

Trenton, New Jersey – With his mother in the hospital and his father out of state, a 6-year-old boy and his siblings were under the care of a teenager when someone apparently entered their New Jersey residence at night and killed him while he slept, authorities say.

Dominick Andujor's 12-year-old sister also was critically wounded, her throat slit, as she slept in another room at the Camden home, authorities say. She was hospitalized at Cooper University Hospital, which would not discuss her condition, citing privacy concerns.

A 9-year-old girl and a 14-year-old girl, who was babysitting the three younger children, were unharmed, said Jason Laughlin, a spokesman for the Camden County prosecutor's office.

Law enforcement agencies wanted to talk to a man who lives in the area in connection with the 2 a.m. Sunday attack. He apparently had lacerations on his hand. But authorities said they were not targeting one person, and it was not clear why the children were attacked.

Nakyta McCray, who lives nearby, said the man she believes police were looking for is well-known around the neighborhood. She said he plays with the local children and seemed to be a peaceful person.

"People would never think he would do something like this," she said.

Camden County prosecutors said Dominick was pronounced dead at the scene; they would not release further details on the attack, including what type of weapon was used.

The wounded girl, whose name was not released, went door to door in the neighborhood to get help and finally reached the home of McCray, who called 911. McCray said the girl "was barely breathing" and bleeding profusely when emergency personnel arrived.

The teenager had been babysitting the other three children because their mother, who recently underwent surgery, was still in the hospital. Authorities said Dominick's father lives out of state. It was not known if he also was the father of the other children.

Camden, across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, continually ranks as one of the nation's most dangerous. The double stabbing comes shortly after another child died a violent death in the city. On Aug. 22, a 33-year-old Camden woman allegedly decapitated her 2-year-old toddler and then fatally stabbed herself.

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