PATERSON, N.J. โ Authorities say 21-year-old Ashanti Givens of Paterson beat her boyfriendโs 4-year-old daughter to death, while the childโs father, 21-year-old Givenchy Stewart, helped cover it up. Both now face serious charges after a grand jury returned indictments in the case.
According to Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes, the young child was discovered unresponsive by Paterson police at the Griffin Homes public housing project near Pearl and Carroll streets on the evening of May 6, 2025. Officers immediately attempted life-saving measures and rushed the girl to St. Josephโs University Medical Center, but she was tragically pronounced dead at 9:33 p.m., just 45 minutes after being found.
Investigators quickly focused on Stewart and Givens after determining that the couple had left the little girl unattended in their apartment both on the day she died and the day before.
An autopsy revealed the horrifying truth: the child had died from blunt force trauma, and her injuries were consistent with repeated physical abuse.
Following an intensive investigation by Valdesโs Special Victims Unit, both Givens and Stewart were arrested. Authorities allege that Givens inflicted the fatal injuries, while Stewart failed to protect his daughter and later attempted to help conceal what happened.
On Tuesday, August 26, 2025, Prosecutor Valdes announced that a Passaic County grand jury had indicted the pair. Givens was charged with:
- First-degree murder
- Child endangerment
Stewart, while not charged with the murder itself, faces serious counts of child endangerment and hindering prosecution for his role in the attempted cover-up.
The indictment also adds hindering charges against both defendants, reflecting authoritiesโ belief that they deliberately tried to mislead investigators in the aftermath of the childโs death.
A Superior Court judge has ordered both remain held in jail until trial. Ashanti Givens is being housed at the Hudson County Correctional Center in Kearny, while Givenchy Stewart is being held at the Bergen County Jail. Their formal arraignment is scheduled for September 8, 2025.
The case has sent shockwaves through Paterson and beyond, with many community members expressing outrage at the unimaginable violence committed against a defenseless child. Advocates for childrenโs welfare say this case underscores the urgent need for vigilance and stronger protections for vulnerable minors.
Prosecutor Valdes vowed that her office will pursue justice for the young victim with every legal tool available.
โThis childโs life was taken in an act of brutality that no community should ever have to endure,โ Valdes said. โOur office will ensure accountability for those responsible and continue to fight for the safety of all children in Passaic County.โ
As the case moves forward, the memory of the 4-year-old victim serves as a sobering reminder of the responsibility adults have to protect the most vulnerable among us.
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