the staff of the Ridgewood blog
River Edge NJ, in a heartbreaking case that has shaken Bergen County, Sun Min “Grace” Yoo Chan, a mother from River Edge, has pleaded guilty to second-degree reckless manslaughter in the 2022 death of her 3-month-old son, Elliot. The plea comes after nearly three years of legal proceedings, protests, and emotional appeals from family and supporters.
Tragic Incident and Legal Proceedings
On March 29, 2022, River Edge Police responded to a 911 call about an unresponsive infant at Chan’s home. Elliot, just 3 months old, was found with traumatic injuries and later pronounced dead on April 1 at Hackensack University Medical Center.
Initially charged with first-degree murder, second-degree aggravated assault, and endangering the welfare of a child, Chan had denied the charges, claiming she was in the “wrong place at the wrong time.” However, court records reveal that in November 2024, she admitted to striking Elliot’s head against a hard surface, which caused a nearly 4-inch skull fracture and severe brain trauma. She also acknowledged prior injuries to the infant, including broken ribs, a fractured femur, and tibia.
Community Response and Petition for Clemency
Despite her admission, the case has drawn widespread community support for Chan. Over 100 supporters gathered outside a Bergen County courtroom earlier this year, insisting she was wrongly accused. A Change.org petition, titled “Justice For Wrongly Incarcerated New Jersey Mother”, has garnered over 10,000 signatures, arguing that the case against her is circumstantial and highlighting Elliot’s poor health at birth, including rickets disease and a vitamin D deficiency.
The petition also emphasizes the emotional toll on Chan’s surviving children—Elliot’s twin brother and a 5-year-old sister—both of whom showed no signs of abuse.
Sentencing and Plea Agreement
Rather than face trial for murder, Chan accepted a plea deal. Prosecutors will seek a five-year prison sentence with 85% mandatory service before parole eligibility and three years of supervision following release. Her sentencing has been delayed multiple times, most recently from March to a still-unscheduled date in May 2025.
During her November plea hearing, Chan appeared tearful and emotional as she admitted to the reckless actions that caused her son’s death.
A Divisive Case
This case continues to divide public opinion. While prosecutors argue that justice must be served for the loss of a child, supporters see a grieving mother punished too harshly under unclear medical circumstances.
Regardless of the final outcome, the story of Grace Yoo Chan and baby Elliot remains one of Bergen County’s most painful and debated tragedies in recent years.
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5 years is not enough!!
Lock her up!