Burlington, NJ — On Friday, January 27, at 8:33pm, a City of Burlington Police Officer on patrol was stopped by an alert NJ TRANSIT Bus Operator, who reported suspicious activity in the area of High and Broad Streets.
The city police officer radioed the description and several officers responded. The female, identified later as Autumn Matacchiera, Age 20, of Hainesport, NJ, was spotted on the NJ TRANSIT Light Rail Platform, Burlington Town Station, located on West Broad Street near High Street.
As officers were walking onto the platform ramp to approach Matacchiera, she grabbed an unsuspecting 5 year old girl, who was standing next to her mother. Matacchiera then threw the 5 year old girl onto the railroad tracks as the NJ TRANSIT Light Rail Train was approaching the train station. Matacchierea did not know the 5 year old girl or her family.
Back-up officers arriving on scene quickly jumped in front of the train to signal it to stop while the child was removed from the tracks by the mother’s boyfriend. Matacchiera was quickly subdued and placed into custody by other officers on scene.
The victim, a 5 year old city resident, was transported to Memorial Hospital of Burlington County for a facial laceration and bruising.
She was treated and released to her mother.
Autumn Matacchiera was charged with Attempted Murder. She was transported to Lourdes Medical Center for a psychiatric evaluation and is currently in police custody awaiting incarceration.
