Mother charged with burning newborn to death

Natalie DiBlasio | USA TODAY

Police say a mother set her newborn baby on fire in the middle of a road in Pemberton Township, N.J., late Friday.

Burlington County prosecutors said Hyphernkemberly Dorvilier, 22, was charged Saturday with murder and jailed on $500,000 bail. It wasn't known if she has retained a lawyer.

Police were called to the scene in Pemberton Township, about 30 miles east of Philadelphia, around 11 p.m. Friday, where they found the child on fire and quickly doused the flames.

The newborn was alive but severely burned when flown to Temple University Hospital's burn unit in critical condition and then later transferred to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia. The infant died Saturday morning, police said.

Neighbor Dave Joseph, 45, told the local newspaper, the Burlington County Times, that he witnessed the incident. He said a young woman had gotten out of her car and lit something on fire in the middle of the road and that the woman told him she was burning dog waste.

"Her demeanor was calm. She knew what she was doing," he told the paper.

Joseph said his wife realized what was happening and began to scream. The woman attempted to flee, but neighbors stopped her from escaping.

"It was just mind-boggling. It was a nightmare even if you have a strong heart," Joseph said. "Hopefully she'll pay for it."

Prosecutor Robert Bernardi did not say if Dorvilier had a criminal record and the baby's age has not yet been disclosed. Police have not identified a motive for the alleged murder.

Community members are coming together on Facebook to plan a candlelight vigil for the infant Wednesday evening. The group will collect money to help pay for the infant's funeral, according to the group's page.

Contributing: The Associated Press