A Magnolia couple have been arrested and charged with the murder of their infant child who police say they buried in the backyard of their home after the baby died of severe malnourishment.
According to the Delaware State Police Department, on October 10, 2021, troopers responded to the home of 22-year-old Angel Toran and 24-year-old Ny’Jier Murphy, both of Magnolia, in the 400 block of Lambert Drive with the Division of Family Services (DFS) to check on the welfare of an infant.
DFS received information that an infant possibly died at the home and that the death was unreported to authorities. When troopers initially arrived on-scene, Toran and Murphy were not home but arrived a short time later, according to police.
When troopers made contact with Murphy, a concealed Glock 19 model 9mm handgun was spotted in a holster on his hip. A computer inquiry discovered Murphy does not possess a permit for carrying a concealed deadly weapon in the State of Delaware.
Delaware State Police Homicide and Major Crimes Unit conducted an investigation into the infant’s death which determined Toran gave birth at home to a baby girl in April, 2021 and the child’s birth was never reported to the state.
In mid-September, the baby died at the age of five months old. The death was never reported and the baby was buried on the property. The infant’s body was exhumed from the property on October 11, 2021 and turned over to the Division of Forensic Science for an autopsy to be performed.
Through investigative means, police say the infant was determined to be severely malnourished and succumbed to medical issues associated with malnourishment. As a result, the Attorney General’s Office approved charges for both Toran and Murphy and arrest warrants were obtained for their arrests.
On February 10, 2022, both Toran and Murphy responded to Delaware State Police Troop 3. As Ny’Jier Murphy was notified of his arrest warrant by troopers, police say he resisted arrest and was taken into custody after a brief struggle. Toran was arrested without incident.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. Additional charges, including resisting arrest resulting from Murphy’s actions at Troop 3, are forthcoming.
Toran was charged with Murder by Abuse or Neglect First Degree Recklessly Cause Death of Child (Felony) and Conspiracy First Degree (Felony). She was arraigned in the Justice of the Peace Court #2 and committed to Department of Correction custody on a $260,000.00 cash bail.
Murphy was charged with Murder by Abuse or Neglect First Degree Recklessly Cause Death of Child (Felony), Conspiracy First Degree (Felony), and Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon (Felony). He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court #2 and was committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on a $270,000.00 cash bail.