FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  Caitlin Mota

PHONE: (201) 577-6699

EMAIL: cmota@hcpo.org

DATE: Monday, March 11, 2024 

PARENTS ARRESTED FOLLOWING INDICTMENT BY HUDSON COUNTY GRAND JURY 

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office has arrested Tracy Ruiz and Luis Larios following their indictment by a Hudson County Grand Jury.

Ruiz, 31, of Green Brook, is charged with Aggravated Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b, a crime of the second degree and two counts of Endangering the Welfare of Child in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a(2), crimes of the second degree. She was arrested at the Hudson County Administration Building in Jersey City on Thursday, March 7, 2024.

Larios, 35, of Green Brook, is charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:244a(2). He was arrested at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in Secaucus on Thursday, February 29, 2024. Both defendants were charged on a direct indictment by a Grand Jury, which was signed by a Judge of the Superior Court on Wednesday, February 21, 2024.

On July 7, 2022, the North Bergen Police Department was notified of an injured juvenile inside of a residence of Dane Court. Responding officers located an unresponsive 2-year-old juvenile female on the floor of a bedroom in an apartment at that address. She was transported by Emergency Medical Services to Hackensack University Medical Center in critical condition and was pronounced dead on July 23, 2022.

During the course of the investigation, it was determined the child sustained traumatic injuries. Three additional children resided in the apartment, which was in an unsanitary condition.

The above charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6)