A Burlington City man will spend 12 years in New Jersey State Prison for fatally smothering his infant son in November 2010.
Griffin, 26, put a pillow over his four-week-old's face to stop him from crying, according to investigators. When Nyir Griffin quieted down, his father removed the pillow and discovered that Nyir wasn't breathing, according to court documents. At that point, Griffin left the house.
Nyir's maternal grandmother found the infant and tried to revive him. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Griffin plead guilty in January to aggravated manslaughter.
"This is a very disturbing case because it involves a father who took the life of his infant son,” Prosecutor Robert Bernardi said. “Central to the responsibility of parenthood is an obligation to nurture children and protect them from harm. This case demonstrates the tragic outcome and consequences that result when that duty is abandoned.”
