At a Glance
- Ruben Santiago, 36, of Lakewood, pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in the death of his 3-month-old daughter.
- The infant died on May 6, 2025, one day after being found unresponsive with blunt force trauma to the head.
- Prosecutors say Santiago and the child’s mother, Caitlin Gibson, were responsible for the fatal injuries.
- Why it matters: The guilty plea secures a 25-year prison term recommendation, while Gibson still faces pending murder charges.
A Lakewood father has admitted to causing the death of his infant daughter, accepting a plea deal that could send him to prison for a quarter-century.
Ruben Santiago, 36, entered the guilty plea on January 15, 2026, in Ocean County Superior Court, prosecutors announced. The charge-aggravated manslaughter-stems from the May 2025 death of the 3-month-old girl who suffered catastrophic head injuries while in the care of Santiago and the child’s mother, Caitlin Gibson.
The 911 Call and Hospital Death
Emergency crews were dispatched to the family’s Pinehurst Drive home at 7:20 p.m. on May 5, 2025, after a report that the baby was having trouble breathing.
Officers arrived to find the child unresponsive. Paramedics began life-saving measures and rushed her to a local hospital, where she died the next day.
An autopsy performed by the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office on May 7 determined the cause of death:
- Blunt force trauma to the head
- Multiple skull fractures
- Subdural hematoma
- Manner of death ruled homicide
Arrests and Investigation
Detectives concluded that both parents inflicted the injuries. Santiago and Gibson were arrested and charged with murder and related offenses.
Following months of court proceedings, Santiago agreed to plead guilty to aggravated manslaughter. Under the plea agreement, prosecutors will request a 25-year state prison sentence when he is formally sentenced on March 4, 2026.
Pending Case Against Mother
While Santiago’s case is now resolved, the charges against Caitlin Gibson remain active. She has not entered a plea and is next due in court for pre-trial motions. Prosecutors have not disclosed whether they will seek a similar plea deal or proceed to trial.
Key Takeaways
- The guilty plea spares the family a lengthy murder trial and guarantees substantial prison time.
- The 25-year term is the maximum allowed under the aggravated manslaughter statute.
- Gibson’s unresolved case leaves open the possibility of additional convictions related to the infant’s death.
Anyone with further information about the incident is asked to contact the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit.
