By: Richard L. Smith
Elina Gutti, a 38-year-old resident of South Bound Brook, has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the tragic death of her four-year-old son.
Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald and Chief of County Detectives Francisco Roman Jr. announced the verdict, delivered on December 19.
The harrowing case dates back to February 6, 2021, when Gutti called 911, reporting she had woken up with a cut wrist and was unsure how she sustained the injury.
Upon arrival, South Bound Brook Patrol Officers discovered her injuries were minor.
However, a subsequent search revealed a horrific scene: Gutti's young son was found deceased in her bedroom, with over 17 incised wounds to his neck. A kitchen knife, identified as the murder weapon, was found on the bedroom floor.
An intensive investigation ensued, involving detectives from Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit and Crime Scene Investigation Unit.
The New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner's Office conducted a post-mortem examination, confirming the child's death as a homicide caused by multiple incised wounds to the neck.
Gutti underwent a bench trial before Judge Julie M. Marino, J.S.C., across two weeks in December 2023.
She was found guilty of all charges, including first-degree murder with the aggravating factor of victim age under 14 and two counts of third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
With the conviction, Gutti faces a mandatory life sentence without parole to be served in a maximum-security prison.
Assistant Prosecutors Nicole McGrath and Gerard Tyrrell represented the state in this case. Sentencing is scheduled for January 16, 2024, in Somerset County Superior Court.
The community awaits this final step in a case that has deeply affected the residents of Somerset County.