Woman facing charges in death of 5-year-old girl in Robbinsville, NJ

Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Woman facing charges in death of 5-year-old girl in Robbinsville, NJ
A woman is facing charges in the death of a 5-year-old girl in Robbinsville, New Jersey.

ROBBINSVILLE, N.J. (WPVI) -- A woman is facing charges in the death of a 5-year-old girl in Robbinsville, New Jersey.

Police responded to a home on Sunday night for a report of an unresponsive child. The girl was then taken to Robert Wood University Hospital Hamilton, where she was later pronounced dead.

Investigators arrested 36-year-old Raphaelle Register on Monday for endangering the welfare of a child, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office.

According to a criminal complaint, Register is accused of "failing to adequately feed and nourish," or provide necessary medical treatment for a child.

The criminal complaint also said Register was in charge of caring for two five-year-olds, an eight-year-old and a 12-year-old, who they allege she left unattended.

The cause and manner of death are pending autopsy results.

"We're all just heartbroken," said neighbor Sara Beth Hicks. "I told my daughter last night. We just cried and prayed together."

She said Register is the mother of the children, including five-year-old twins who were premature and had medical complications.

She does not believe Register intentionally abused her children.

"They were both very difficult to feed. Neither of them wanted to eat. They would only take bottles," said Hicks. "I think she just had a hard time knowing what the right thing was to do."

Register made a first appearance in court today.

She's being held in the Mercer County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing set for Friday, May 2.

There has been no word on the other children in Register's care.

Copyright © 2025 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.