According to a statement released by police, in April 21, at approximately 11:45 a.m., Jersey City Police Officers were dispatched to Jersey City Medical Center on a report of a patient that had been involved in a domestic incident.
Upon arrival to the hospital, police officers found Sonia Drouet, 57, of Jersey City in an unconscious state due to injuries sustained during a physical altercation on April 20th.
The morning after the incident, Drouet was transported by Emergency Medical Services to JCMC where she was treated for her injuries and remained in a coma until her death. She was pronounced dead at approximately 7:30 a.m. on May 8, 2019 police said.
Police say following the initial investigation, JCPD arrested Drouet’s boyfriend, Guillermo Flores 67, of Jersey City. He was originally charged with assault.
Upon the death of the victim, the case was turned over to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit which continued to actively investigating the case with assistance from the Jersey City Police Department.
The Regional Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death to be complications from blunt force trauma to the head and the manner of death to be homicide.
Police say on June 14, an additional Reckless Manslaughter charge was filed against Flores by the Homicide Unit. Manslaughter in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4b(1), a second-degree crime.
According to police shortly after 1:00 a.m., on June 18th, Flores turned himself into members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office. He was arrested, processed and then transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.
Prosecutor Suarez credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit with the investigation and arrest with the assistance of the Jersey City Police Department.
The above charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).