The Newark couple is facing additional charges in the alleged beating death.
Spearman and Rawls. (Courtesy Essex County Prosecutor's Office)NEWARK -- A mother and her boyfriend have been charged with aggravated manslaughter in connection with the death of the woman's 7-year-old son, authorities announced Friday.
Khadejrah Rawls, 28, and her live-in boyfriend Christopher Spearman, 29, were charged Friday after a medical examiner ruled Michael Moore Jr.'s death a homicide, caused by multiple blunt impact injuries, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose announced in a release.
The charges are on top of assault and endangering the welfare of a child charges that were filed against the couple earlier this week.
Police responded to the couple's North Munn Avenue home on Oct. 2 at 9:54 a.m. on a report of an unresponsive child, officials said. Moore was transported to University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:36 a.m., authorities said.
Four other children, all younger than Moore, and three pit bull puppies, were also removed from the home. Authorities said the children have been placed with the state Child Protection and Permanency.
Bail is set at $750,000 for Rawls and $1 million for Spearman.
The investigation into the boy's death is continuing, authorities said. Anyone with information is asked to call 877-847-7432.
Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.