Name: CONGOID ALERT 2006-07-25 13:28
http://www.thedailyjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060712/NEWS01/60712003
Arraignment set for man accused in sex assault, death of toddler
From staff and wire reports
MILLVILLE — A city man is scheduled to appear in Cumberland County Court at 10 a.m. Thursday to
face charges he smothered his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter while sexually assaulting the toddler,
authorities said.
Latimer Byrdsell, 23, raped the girl Monday night while caring for her at the Millville Lodge, 2201 S. 2nd
St., Cumberland County Prosecutor Ronald J. Casella said. He was dating the girl’s mother, who was at
work during the alleged rape, Casella said.
Byrdsell dialed 9-1-1 at 9:40 p.m. Monday to report a child was in need of assistance, and Millville
Rescue Squad responded, Casella said. The child died early Tuesday morning at South Jersey Regional
Medical Center in Vineland, Casella said.
Hospital staff notified authorities it appeared she had been sexually assaulted, according to Millville
Police Chief Ronald Harvey. Casella would not identify the girl or the mother.
An autopsy at Shore Memorial Hospital in Somers Point indicated the girl was suffocated, Casella said.
A pillow was on the child’s head while she was sexually assaulted, Casella said.
The mother lived in the Millville Lodge residence with Byrdsell for a couple of months, next-door neighbors
said.
Byrdsell is charged with murder and aggravated sexual assault of the girl, who was identified in the
criminal complaint by her initials, A.T. Byrdsell’s bail was initially set at $500,000.
Byrdsell is originally from Essex County and lived briefly in Vineland at the Little Flower trailer park on
North Delsea Drive, Casella said.
A complete report will be in tomorrow's print edition of The Daily Journal and on this Web site.
Originally published July 12, 2006
Arraignment set for man accused in sex assault, death of toddler
From staff and wire reports
MILLVILLE — A city man is scheduled to appear in Cumberland County Court at 10 a.m. Thursday to
face charges he smothered his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter while sexually assaulting the toddler,
authorities said.
Latimer Byrdsell, 23, raped the girl Monday night while caring for her at the Millville Lodge, 2201 S. 2nd
St., Cumberland County Prosecutor Ronald J. Casella said. He was dating the girl’s mother, who was at
work during the alleged rape, Casella said.
Byrdsell dialed 9-1-1 at 9:40 p.m. Monday to report a child was in need of assistance, and Millville
Rescue Squad responded, Casella said. The child died early Tuesday morning at South Jersey Regional
Medical Center in Vineland, Casella said.
Hospital staff notified authorities it appeared she had been sexually assaulted, according to Millville
Police Chief Ronald Harvey. Casella would not identify the girl or the mother.
An autopsy at Shore Memorial Hospital in Somers Point indicated the girl was suffocated, Casella said.
A pillow was on the child’s head while she was sexually assaulted, Casella said.
The mother lived in the Millville Lodge residence with Byrdsell for a couple of months, next-door neighbors
said.
Byrdsell is charged with murder and aggravated sexual assault of the girl, who was identified in the
criminal complaint by her initials, A.T. Byrdsell’s bail was initially set at $500,000.
Byrdsell is originally from Essex County and lived briefly in Vineland at the Little Flower trailer park on
North Delsea Drive, Casella said.
A complete report will be in tomorrow's print edition of The Daily Journal and on this Web site.
Originally published July 12, 2006