Perth Amboy resident Matthew Childs appeared in Middlesex County court on Tuesday after being charged with murdering his girlfriend’s infant and covering it up for years.
Chile has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, desecration of a body, and endangering the welfare of a child.
Police say Childs beat his girlfriend’s toddler, Sidney Durham, to death in June 2019.
Court documents show that the child’s mother, Monique Durham, knew about the murder and never told police.
Instead, she tried to cover it up by telling relatives in North Carolina that she had given up custody of Sydney, according to officers.
Police launched an investigation after receiving a call asking for a medical check-up for Durham’s other daughter, who is also Sydney’s twin. She is 5 years old now.
Police say that’s when they discovered Sydney was missing.
For three years, no family member had seen or heard of the girl.
When police began questioning Durham, she admitted that Childs had murdered her daughter, according to court documents.
“Mr Durham saw Childs walk out of the residence with Sydney’s body in his arms,” one statement read.
“Mr. Childs returned without Sidney’s body, but told her it would be better if he didn’t know where he hid her,” said another.
Court documents show Durham continued to collect child support despite knowing Sydney was murdered three years earlier.
Durham has been charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and is currently under house arrest. She cannot see another daughter without supervision.
Court documents show he had other children in Chile and police also said he abused them.