A woman the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office said was wanted in connection to a heinous child-abuse case — a story we brought to you last week — has been captured, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said.
On Wednesday, March 9, 2022, members of the United States Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force and the New York City Police Department arrested Shaqwana Baker, 21, for her involvement in a child abuse case that gravely injured her 3-year-old daughter.
Baker was arrested at approximately 11:55 a.m. in the area of West 37th Street and 10th Avenue in Manhattan.
She and her boyfriend, Edward Smith, 29, of Far Rockaway, New York, are both charged with aggravated assault and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
On Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, the NYPD was notified by NYU Langone Hospital that Baker brought her 3-year-old daughter to the facility with life-threatening injuries. The child was later transported to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Bellevue Hospital, where she continues to receive medical treatment. An investigation by the NYPD and HCPO Special Victims Unit determined the 3-year-old girl was the victim of child abuse and was injured while staying at a North Bergen motel with Baker and Smith.
Her injuries are expected to be permanent and life-altering.
Smith was arrested Feb. 24, 2022 at the Hudson County Correctional Facility, where he was being held pending a detention hearing on additional criminal charges.
Judge Paul M. DePascale granted the state’s motion for detention on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
Baker is currently in custody in New York where she awaits extradition to Hudson County.
Suarez credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office SVU, the NYPD and the United States Marshals Service with the investigation and arrest.
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Kevin A. Canessa Jr. is the editor of and broadcaster at The Observer, a place where he has served on and off since 2006. He is responsible for the editorial content of the newspaper and website, the production of the e-Newspaper, writing several stories per week (including the weekly editorial), conducting live broadcasts on Facebook Live, including a weekly recap of the news — and much more behind the scenes. Between 2006 and 2008, he introduced the newspaper to its first-ever blog — which included podcasts, audio and video. Originally from Jersey City, Kevin lived in Kearny until 2004, lived in Port St. Lucie. Florida, for four years until February 2016 and in March of that year, he moved back to West Hudson to return to The Observer full time. Click Here to send Kevin an email.