Murder Charges Held Over for Father Who Allegedly Killed Infant Son

At a preliminary hearing this afternoon, District Judge Harold Borek held a charge over for county arraignment of third-degree murder against Jameel Earthy East, 22, for allegedly killing his 3-month-old son last month.

A charge of lying to police in a written statement was also held over for county arraignment against East, of the 400 block of Lantern Lane, Towamencin.

A county arraignment is set for Sept. 7 at 9:30 a.m.

Prosecution called one witness to testify against East at the preliminary hearing.

Dressed in a white shirt and black shorts, East remained motionless and emotionless during the hearing, even as details were read regarding the fatal injuries inflicted on his infant son, Enzo.

Providing support for East in the courtroom were four of East's family members.

Montgomery County Assistant District Attorneys Samantha Cauffman and Jordan Fritter had no comment.

Defense attorneys Kate Taxis and Jodi Lukens also had no comment.

East is accused of killing his infant son as he watched him at his home on June 25.

According to an affidavit, a caseworker with Montgomery County Office of Children and Youth Services reproted to police June 25 at 8:10 a.m. that a male infant, Enzo East, aged 3 months, was transported from his home to Abington Health Lansdale Hospital.

The infant was unresponsive and Medevaced to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for treatment.

The infant later died at CHOP. An autopsy determined the infant suffered two skull fractures and died from blunt force trauma to the head.

According to an affidavit, police interviewed East about the death of his son on June 25.

East told Montgomery County Detective James McGowan and Towamencin Township Police Sgt. Gary Wacker that he watched his son when the boy was not in the care of his mother, Sarah Luby, 18.

East told police that Luby brought Enzo to his home at 3 a.m. June 24, according to the affidavit.

East described Enzo as being "fussy" during the day and that the child had vomited after he was given a bottle, according to the affidavit.

East was caring for Enzo during the entire day Friday except for a one-hour period between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. when he left his son with his grandmother, Bessie Covington, according to the affidavit.

During this time, East told police he walked to a nearby store and purchased Pedialyte for Enzo. When East returned, Enzo was with Covington and appeared "alert and drowsy," according to the affidavit.

East told police that at 5:30 p.m. June 24, Covington and other family members left the home and he was alone with Enzo, according to the affidavit.

Enzo was given a bottle and vomited again onto East's shorts. East bathed Enzo and attempted to provide him with another bottle, according to the affidavit.

East said he contacted his family doctor and was told he should take Enzo to the hospital, according to the affidavit. East contacted his friend, Justin Holloway, for a ride to the hospital and was about to place Enzo in a car seat for transport, according to the affidavit.

East told police he saw that Enzo stopped breathing and that Enzo's body went limp, according to the affidavit. East told police Holloway arrived and drove them to the hospital, according to the affidavit.

Detectives met with East again June 25 and told him there were inconsistencies in his story.

East told police that Enzo had vomited on his shorts, and then carried his son into a bathroom to bathe him, according to the affidavit.

East said he was "overwhelmed" as he went into the bathroom and sturck Enzo's head against the hard counter surface between the two sinks, according to the affidavit.

East said he heard a "loud bang" as Enzo's head struck the back of the counter below the mirror, according to the affidavit.

East described Enzo as appearing to be in "shock." He told police he bathed his son and noticed that Enzo was not breathing and that Enzo's eyes were rolling back into his head, according to the affidavit.

Keith Heffintrayer contributed to this story.

to read our previous reports.