Wall father indicted for killing 6-week old daughter

A Wall man who was sentenced in 2020 for beating his 15-month old son has now been indicted for murder in the death of his 6-week old daughter.

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Austin Meli, 23, was indicted by a Monmouth County Grand Jury today for Murder and Endangering the Welfare of a Child Monmouth County Prosecutor Chris Gramiccioni, announced on Friday.

Wall Police responded to a home on March 9, 2019 to find an unresponsive 6-week old girl and an abused 15-month old boy.

The girl was brought to Ocean Medical Center in Brick where she passed away.

Police determined the children were those of Meli who now faces a minimum sentence of 30 years in a New Jersey State Prison without parole and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without parole for the baby girls death.

Meli faces up to 10 years New Jersey State Prison on the Endangering the Welfare of a Child charge.

He was sentenced to a decade in prison last year for beating up his 15-month old son, while recording it on video.

The Asbury Park Press previously reported and court documents reveled that Meli was swinging his son by his ankles which made him scream and Meli responded to that by covering up his nose and mouth until he stopped.

Anyone with information that can assist the investigative team, is urged to call Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Sergeant Shawn Murphy at 732-431-7160 extension 7032 or Wall Township Police Detective Chris Lisewski at 732-449-4800 extension 1140.

The case of Meli murdering his 6-week old daughter is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutors Ellyn Rajfer and Margaret Koping.

Meli is represented by Jeffrey Coghlan, Esq., of Freehold.

Previous reporting by Erin Vogt was used in this news report.

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