2005 Media Releases:

CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
VINCENT P. SARUBBI, CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR
MEDIA   INFORMATION

June 25, 2005

Camden County Prosecutor Vincent P. Sarubbi and Camden Police Chief Edwin J. Figueroa today reported the results of autopsies on three boys found dead in the Cramer Hill section of Camden, N.J., on Friday, June 24, 2005.

Camden County Medical Examiner Paul Hoyer has ruled the cause of all three deaths to be suffocation and the manner of all three deaths to be accidental.

The victims are Anibal Cruz, age 11, Daniel Agosto, 6, and Jesstin Pagan, 5.

"Based on Dr. Hoyer's findings, interviews and other investigative information, we conclude that this was a tragic accident," Sarubbi said. "My heartfelt condolences, and those of the entire community, go out to the families and friends of these three young boys. We are providing counseling and other services to the survivors, who are understandably devastated."

A family member of one of the boys discovered the bodies at approximately 6:45 p.m. on Friday in the trunk of a Toyota Camry parked in the yard of one boys' home in the 900 block of Bergen Avenue in Camden. The boys had last been seen at approximately 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 22, 2005, playing in the yard.

"We believe the boys opened the trunk, which was either ajar or opened by means of a release lever located on the floor by the driver's seat. They then climbed in to play," Sarubbi explained. "The trunk closed and the boys were trapped inside."

Dr. Hoyer completed the last of the autopsies in the early morning hours today.

Sarubbi and Figueroa thanked the hundreds of officers and citizen volunteers who helped in the search for the boys. Numerous agencies assisted the Camden Police Department, including the Prosecutor's Office.

"When my office learned of the missing persons investigation Thursday morning, I immediately directed Prosecutor's Office personnel to assist Camden Police in any way they needed. We all had hoped and prayed along with the families for a different outcome," Sarubbi said. "While this outcome is devastating to all concerned, we have been able to rule out the possibility that there is a dangerous individual who could pose an ongoing threat to the community.

"Up until now, our focus has been on the circumstances of the boys' deaths. Now that we have the autopsy results, we have shifted that focus to a careful review of the search procedures and the manner in which the missing persons investigation was conducted.

"We have an obligation to find out how and why the boys were not discovered earlier. Toward this end, I have ordered the formation of a panel to conduct an after-action review - to make detailed inquiries and factual findings. I have further ordered that the panel provide a written report to me and Chief Figueroa within 30 days."

Sarubbi announced that the panel consists of First Assistant Prosecutor James P. Lynch, Deputy Chief of County Investigators Michael Kantner and Camden Police Deputy Chief Edward Hargis.

"Chief Figueroa and I will ensure that this committee receives all necessary resources to enable it to reach prompt, impartial and reliable conclusions. This is an extremely high priority. The families of these boys and the community at large have questions that need to be answered fully and accurately. We are firmly committed to this task."