Prosecutor rejects counter-plea from Morristown man accused of killing child

Edwin Urbina and Krystal Straw at hearing before Judge Stephen Taylor, Dec. 19, 2022. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
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A prosecutor on Monday rejected a counter-plea from a Morristown man accused of murdering his girlfriend’s 3-year-old son.

“I’d take anything from 10 or below,” Edwin Urbina said when Superior Court Judge Stephen Taylor told him this was his last chance to counter the prosecution’s offer of 50 years in state prison in exchange for a guilty plea.

Morris County Assistant Prosecutor Tara Wang said no to Urbina. The case is scheduled for trial late next month.

Wang intends to try Urbina, 28, with Krystal Straw, 29. Straw is charged with covering up for Urbina after he allegedly killed her son, Liam, in an East Hanover hotel early on Aug. 13, 2021.

Defendant Krystal Straw gets legal update Morris County Assistant Public Defender Tracy Denholtz, Dec. 19, 2022. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Through her attorney, Morris County Assistant Public Defender Tracy Denholtz, Straw reiterated her desire to accept an offer of 13 years behind bars for pleading guilty to child endangerment.

But that offer was contingent upon a guilty plea from Urbina, or Straw’s testimony against him.

“They only offer me 50, that’s not an offer,” Urbina told the judge in low, barely audible tones.

In addition to murder, Urbina has been indicted on charges of child endangerment, witness- and evidence tampering, and hindering the investigation. He has a prior criminal record, and if convicted on all charges faces a life sentence without parole, plus 91 1/2 years, Taylor said.

Straw, who has no prior record, is looking at a maximum of 41 1/2 years in prison, of which she could be required to serve nearly 21 years before seeking parole, according to the judge.

Superior Court Judge Stephen Taylor addresses accused killer Edwin Urbina, Dec. 19, 2022. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Urbina’s new attorney, Joel Harris, said his client declined to sign a pre-trial memorandum outlining the charges and potential sentences. When the judge pressed Urbina for an explanation, the defendant only would say: “I don’t want to sign it.”

“He doesn’t want to sign it, he doesn’t want to sign it. So be it,” said Taylor.

Urbina did not look at Straw, seated across the courtroom. Both were handcuffed and shackled at the ankles.

Straw has told authorities she and Liam fell when she was attempting to help him through a respiratory episode. The boy was pronounced dead soon after she took him to Morristown Medical Center.

Authorities contend Straw delayed the hospital trip to help Urbina clear out of the hotel. They also allege Urbina instructed her to delete his contacts and messages from her phone. Based partly on statements from Liam’s 5-year-old sister, authorities assert that Urbina thrashed the boy, possibly beating him with a slipper.

The county medical examiner ruled the death a homicide.

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