A Villas woman was arrested on Thursday, May 9, and charged with manslaughter and child endangerment in connection with the death of her 6-month-old son on June 25, 2023.

Michelle Stanton, 29, was taken into custody without incident by members of the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Lower Township Police Department, according to a press release issued by county Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland and Lower Township Police Chief Kevin Lewis.

According to the prosecutor, the charges were related to a call for service last June, when Lower Township police responded to Stanton’s residence in the 200 block of East Wilde Avenue.

There, police found an unconscious and unresponsive 6-month-old boy, later identified as Christian Carty, Stanton’s son. The child was taken to Cape Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

An investigation was begun by the Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Lower Township Police Department’s Detective Division.

Stanton was charged with second-degree manslaughter and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. She was initially lodged at the Cape May County Correctional Facility, but released the same day pending further court appearances.

Sutherland said a person convicted of a second-degree crime is subject to a prison term of five to 10 years. He said anyone who has information concerning this case or any illegal activity should report it anonymously through the Cape May County Sheriff’s Tip Line at cmcsheriff.net, through the Cape May County Crime Stoppers, 609-465-2800, or to the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-465-1135.