A Passaic County father and his girlfriend have been indicted in the death of his 4-year-old daughter, prosecutors said.
Givenchy Stewart, 21, of Paterson, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and hindering apprehension. His girlfriend, Ashanti Givens, 21, also of Paterson, faces charges of first-degree murder, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and hindering apprehension.
On May 6, around 9 p.m., Paterson police responded to an apartment near Pearl and Carroll streets, where they found the child unresponsive. She was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead that night.
Investigators determined Stewart and Givens left the child alone for “significant periods” on May 5 and 6. An autopsy revealed she died from blunt force trauma, ruled a homicide. Authorities say Givens was directly responsible for the killing, leading to upgraded charges.
The couple was indicted on Aug. 6. If convicted, Givens faces life in prison, while Stewart faces up to 15 years.