Man Accused of Killing Daughter to Return to NJ

A New Jersey man accused of killing his 2-year-old daughter by allegedly leaving her in a creek still strapped into her car seat has agreed to return to his home state to stand trial.

Arthur Morgan III was arrested Tuesday in San Diego, a week after authorities allege he killed Tierra Morgan-Glover, whose body was found partly submerged in a park in Wall Township, New Jersey. 

The  Division of Youth and Families Services is investigating whether it failed to protect the child. In the past, the agency removed children from the home quickly when one parent abused another. But its new policy calls for the family to receive additional services but that the children remain in the home. The policy is intended to keep more families together and put fewer children into the foster care system.

Child welfare authorities in New Jersey said they investigated the turbulent relationship between Morgan and his girlfriend, Imani Benton, four times in the past 13 months but could not determine that abuse or neglect was occurring.

Benton's family said DYFS and the court system of not doing enough to help her.

The New Jersey child welfare agency was sued more than 10 years ago for not protecting children and has since been in a process of reform that is monitored by the federal government. DYFS has not disclosed what contact it had with the toddler,

The child’s body was discovered by kids playing in a park that runs alongside the creek. It set off a national manhunt for Morgan.  

In a court hearing Thursday, Morgan waived his right to contest extradition, which could have taken up to 120 days. He is expected to be brought back to New Jersey in the next few weeks to stand trial.  

With the Associated Press