PEMBERTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey woman who prosecutors say put her newborn baby in the middle of the road and set the child on fire has been charged with murder.
Burlington County prosecutors say 22-year-old Hyphernkemberly Dorvilier was jailed Saturday on $500,000 bail. It wasn’t known if she has retained a lawyer.
Police responded to a Friday night call about a fire in the middle of a residential road in Pembertown Township, about 30 miles east of Philadelphia. Officers found the baby in flames and put out the fire. The child was taken to a hospital, where she died about two hours later.
Prosecutors say the mother doused her baby with an accelerant then set her on fire. They do not have a motive. The mother was taken into custody Friday night.
Dave Joseph, 45, of Pemberton, told The Burlington County Times that he saw a young woman get out of her car and light something on fire in the middle of Simontown Road. He said the woman told him she was burning dog waste.
Joseph said the woman appeared calm and soon tried to flee the scene, but residents stopped her.
“It was just mind-boggling,” Joseph said. “It was a nightmare even if you have a strong heart.”