Authorities charged the mother of a two-year-old boy and her friend for the October 2014 death when the boy was found apparently beaten to death in an apartment in the 50's block of Halsted Street.
According to a spokeswoman for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, following autopsy results that returned in April, the Medical Examiner determined the child, Jaseer Murray, died from blunt force trauma and ruled his death a homicide.
The spokeswoman said on May 8, the mother, Ryckia Murray, 21, of Newark and her male friend, Najee Culley, 20, of Newark were both taken into custody and charged with manslaughter.
The mother has also been charged with endangering the welfare of a child the spokeswoman continued.
The spokeswoman said the charges are accusations and that both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they enter a guilty plea or are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
They are both being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility the spokeswoman said.