Inset, left to right: Ruben Santiago and Caitlin Gibson (Ocean County Corrections). Background: The area in New Jersey where Santiago and Gibson lived with their daughter (Google Maps).
UPDATE: A 28-year-old mother in New Jersey accused of killing her 3-month-old daughter will no longer face any charges in connection with the child's brutal death after the infant's father admitted he was solely responsible for inflicting the fatal injuries.
Ruben Santiago, the victim's father, last week pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated manslaughter in connection with his daughter's May 2025 death, authorities announced.
Caitlin Gibson, the girl's mother, was released from pretrial detention as prosecutors work to formally dismiss all of the charges she had been facing, NJ.com reported, citing confirmation from the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.
Gibson's defense attorney, Mitchell Ansell, told the online news outlet that Santiago attested to Gibson's innocence during his plea hearing last week.
"[Santiago] completely absolved Caitlin [Gibson] of any wrongdoing and knowledge of this crime," Ansell told NJ.com. "At that point in time [Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan] released [Gibson] from jail, and she is now home with her family."
According to a news release from the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, officers with the Lakewood Township Police Department at about 7:20 p.m. on May 5 responded to a residence on Pinehurst Drive after receiving a report of an infant "having difficulty breathing."
Upon arrival, first responders said they found the 3-month-old unresponsive. Emergency medical personnel arrived shortly after police and began performing lifesaving procedures before transporting the victim to Ocean University Medical Center in Brick Township. Due to the severity of her condition, the infant was later transferred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune.
The victim succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead on May 6. A subsequent autopsy performed by the Ocean County Medical Examiner's Office determined that the victim's cause of death was "blunt force trauma to the head causing fractures and subdural hematoma," prosecutors said. The manner of death was determined to be homicide.
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During the investigation, authorities said they uncovered evidence revealing that Santiago and Gibson "were responsible for the child's death." Santiago and Gibson were arrested at the Lakewood Township Police Headquarters on May 7.
Court documents obtained by Patch Media provided additional details about the circumstances of the infant's death.
According to the report, the medical examiner described the child's injuries as "devastating," saying they were similar to injuries "sustained from substantial force" such as "the level of force experienced by a significant motor vehicle crash."
In addition to the fractured skull, she reportedly also suffered seven broken ribs and a fractured wrist that were in various stages of healing, indicating a history of physical abuse.
At the hospital, the parents reportedly told investigators that their daughter had diarrhea and was vomiting intermittently for a few days. They had even taken her to the hospital where she was given IV fluids the day before she suffered her fatal injuries.
On the night of May 5, Santiago claimed he changed the baby's diaper and put her down at about 7 p.m. and was found unresponsive by Gibson about 20 minutes later.
Following their arrests, Gibson reportedly refused to speak with investigators. Santiago, on the other hand, allegedly offered numerous explanations for what could have happened to his daughter, including that he dropped a glass bottle on her head, dropped her while crouching, and dropped her while standing. He also allegedly said the infant may have struck her head on a TV stand and the support beam of her bouncer.
Santiago is currently scheduled to appear in court for his sentencing hearing on March 4. Prosecutors are reportedly seeking a sentence of 25 years in prison without the possibility for early release.