May 24, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Joel Bewley
Public Information Officer
609-265-5777 c: 609-820-4407
jbewley@co.burlington.nj.us

BURLINGTON CITY MAN INDICTED FOR KILLING HIS CRYING SON

MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. - Burlington County Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi announced today that a
Burlington City man was indicted for fatally smothering his 4-week-old son in November 2010 because
the infant would not stop crying.

Erik D. Griffin, age 25, of 440 St. Mary Street in Burlington City, N.J. was indicted by a Burlington
County Grand Jury on one count of Murder (First Degree) and one count of Endangering the Welfare of a
Child (Second Degree).

The investigation revealed that on November 11, 2010, the defendant placed a pillow over the face of his
4-week-old son, Nyir Griffin, to stop him from crying. The defendant removed the pillow once the infant
stopped making noise. The defendant then noticed the infant was no longer breathing and left the
residence. Nyir was later discovered by his maternal grandmother, who found the infant unresponsive
and attempted to revive him.

The baby was taken to Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County in Willingboro, N.J., where he was
pronounced dead. Griffin was arrested November 13, 2010.

The indictment was returned today. An arraignment will be scheduled soon in Superior Court in
Burlington County. Griffin is in Burlington County Jail on $750,000 bail, with no 10 percent option.

An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty.

End
2011-19