The tragic death of Stanley M. Robinson, a 65-year-old resident of Dover, New Jersey, has cast a grim spotlight on a sequence of violent and suspicious events that have shaken the broader Morristown and Hanover communities. In a series of deeply interconnected developments that began unfolding in mid-June 2025, two individuals—33-year-old Enrique “Flaco” Vega and 31-year-old Cassandra West, both unhoused and described as known figures within the Morris County area—have been arrested and charged in connection not only with Robinson’s death, but also with a burglary and a separate death investigation involving a third person, identified only as R.E.

This multi-faceted case is marked by a tragic death near the railroad tracks in Morristown, an opportunistic burglary at a local motel, and a chilling discovery of a second body in an abandoned home. Each of these events, when viewed through a forensic and sociological lens, illuminates a grim narrative of violence, neglect, systemic breakdowns, and the desperate contours of life at society’s margins. The story of Stanley M. Robinson’s death and the subsequent chain of events does not stand in isolation; rather, it exemplifies the ways in which transient populations, substance use, and proximity to urban infrastructure intersect under conditions of social abandonment.

The Discovery: Stanley M. Robinson’s Body Along Patriots Path

On Friday, June 13, 2025, the normally serene stretch of Patriots Path near Cory Road in Morristown became the site of a grim discovery. Authorities were alerted to the presence of a body lying in proximity to the adjacent railroad tracks—a location that might otherwise be frequented by hikers, commuters, or residents seeking a moment of quiet. But on this day, it was a crime scene.

The deceased was soon identified as Stanley M. Robinson of Dover. At 65 years old, Robinson was, by all indications, a man well into the later phase of life, yet one who, for reasons not publicly detailed, had found himself enmeshed in circumstances that would ultimately lead to his violent death. The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, upon launching a formal investigation, quickly determined that the circumstances surrounding Robinson’s demise were far from accidental or natural. The nature of his injuries—blunt force trauma to the head—prompted law enforcement to classify the death as a homicide.

While details about Robinson’s personal history remain limited, the clinical diagnosis of blunt force trauma as the cause of death speaks to a violent and direct physical assault. Blunt force trauma to the head, often associated with strikes from an object or from being pushed against a hard surface, is a common cause of death in homicides involving spontaneous or opportunistic violence. It implies not only physical proximity but also intent, either to harm or at the very least to exert uncontrolled force. That no help was summoned and no aid rendered further exacerbates the ethical and legal gravity of what transpired.

The Witnesses Who Didn’t Help: Enrique Vega and Cassandra West

The investigation quickly focused on two individuals—Enrique “Flaco” Vega and Cassandra West. Described by authorities as homeless and regularly seen in the Morris County area, Vega and West represent a vulnerable but also often overlooked demographic: individuals with no fixed address, frequently entangled with substance use and marginal economies of survival.

What makes their involvement particularly damning in the case of Robinson’s death is not merely their presence, but their actions—or more precisely, their inaction. According to investigators, Vega and West witnessed a violent altercation between Robinson and another individual known only as R.E. While the nature and motive of that confrontation remain under review, what is undisputed is that Robinson was left with critical head injuries. Rather than calling emergency services or seeking help, Vega and West left the scene.

This failure to act forms the core of the charge of endangering an injured victim levied against both. In New Jersey law, endangering an injured person typically arises when someone knows that a person is seriously hurt and fails to summon aid, particularly when the consequences are fatal. This omission is not simply unethical; it is criminally prosecutable, especially in cases where a reasonable person would have perceived the necessity of intervention.

Their retreat from the scene marked the beginning of a disturbing trajectory, not away from criminal involvement but deeper into it.

The Red Carpet Inn Burglary: Exploiting the Chaos

Shortly after the incident near the railroad tracks, Vega and West reportedly made their way to the Red Carpet Inn in Hanover. What happened there added a layer of opportunistic crime to an already tragic narrative. Authorities believe that Vega stole approximately $2,500 from the motel’s cash register, with West serving as a lookout.

This alleged act introduces a distinct criminal episode within the broader timeline. The charges stemming from this incident are extensive: burglary, theft, and conspiracy for Vega, with West facing conspiracy to commit both burglary and theft. These are felonies in New Jersey, reflecting not just the act of unlawful entry and appropriation of property, but the deliberate coordination between individuals to execute the crime.

From a prosecutorial perspective, the theft at the Red Carpet Inn is deeply relevant because it underscores a pattern of behavior rather than an isolated lapse in judgment. It raises questions about the mindset of Vega and West in the days following Robinson’s death—were they fleeing the consequences of their inaction? Were they simply looking for funds to sustain their itinerant lifestyle, potentially fueled by addiction, as later allegations about heroin use would imply?

The Second Body: R.E. Found Dead in Vacant Hanover Home

By June 14, the case had taken a more disturbing turn. Vega and West, according to law enforcement, encountered the body of R.E.—the individual believed to have been involved in the initial altercation with Robinson—in a vacant home on Ridgedale Avenue in Hanover. This discovery could have led to prompt notification of authorities, but instead, another layer of obfuscation and criminal behavior occurred.

West, upon encountering drug paraphernalia—a used heroin fold—allegedly chose to tamper with the scene by discarding it. This action has led to a charge of tampering with evidence, which implies an intent to interfere with a criminal investigation, whether to shield herself, Vega, or perhaps to obscure the broader context surrounding R.E.’s death.

It’s worth noting that when R.E.’s body was finally recovered on June 16, preliminary reports indicated no visible signs of trauma. The absence of overt physical injuries, however, does not rule out overdose, poisoning, or other non-traumatic causes of death. The medical examiner’s determination is still pending, but the heroin fold West attempted to discard could become pivotal in explaining the cause and manner of R.E.’s death.

The parallel deaths—one by force, one potentially by overdose—raise important thematic questions about vulnerability, community responsibility, and the cascade of criminality that can follow when violence, drug use, and homelessness intersect.

Arrest and Formal Charges: A Cascade of Offenses

On June 16, the same day R.E.’s body was located and recovered, Enrique Vega and Cassandra West were found at the Road Street rail station in Newark. Their presence at a train station underscores a likely attempt to relocate or evade authorities, but they were apprehended without reported resistance and transported to the Morristown Police Department for booking.

The following day, June 17, the legal architecture of the case came into full view. Vega and West were charged in connection with all three incidents:

• In connection with Stanley M. Robinson’s death: Both are charged with endangering an injured victim and defiant trespass, the latter relating to their unauthorized presence on or near private property adjacent to the rail tracks.

• For the Red Carpet Inn theft: Vega is charged with burglary, theft, and conspiracy to commit burglary, while West faces conspiracy to commit burglary and theft.

• Regarding the Hanover vacant home incident: Both are charged with criminal trespass, and West faces an additional charge of tampering with evidence.

These overlapping charges suggest a complex legal process ahead. The charges range from misdemeanors like trespass to serious felonies with long sentencing guidelines, particularly the theft and endangerment offenses.

An Ongoing Investigation and Community Impact

Authorities have emphasized that the investigation into Stanley M. Robinson’s death remains active. The continued solicitation of information from the public by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and Morristown Police Department indicates that other details may be under review—perhaps surveillance footage, witness testimony, or forensic evidence that could corroborate or contradict the accounts of Vega and West.

This case also opens a window into the broader implications of crime and public safety in suburban communities like Morristown and Hanover. These are not neighborhoods typically associated with high-profile homicides or multi-part criminal sagas. Yet the events of mid-June have highlighted how localized crises can spiral outward, linking different geographic points and criminal episodes in a tight, shocking web.

Moreover, the incident places the vulnerabilities of homeless populations into sharp relief. When individuals exist outside stable housing, support systems, or consistent healthcare, their trajectories through the criminal justice system often become cyclical. They are both victims and perpetrators—sometimes in the same story, as this case so tragically illustrates.

Closing Reflections: Seeking Accountability and Understanding

As Vega and West remain in custody awaiting legal proceedings, and as the forensic analysis of R.E.’s cause of death continues, the core tragedy remains: Stanley M. Robinson is dead, his final moments marked by violence and abandonment. Whether or not Vega and West will ultimately be held accountable for Robinson’s death, the moral indictment of their failure to act—and the subsequent crimes they allegedly committed—will linger.

In cases like these, justice does not arrive cleanly or swiftly. It demands careful prosecution, community cooperation, and an honest reckoning with the social dynamics that allowed such events to unfold. The call to the public—to contact the Major Crimes Unit or Morristown Police—underscores the need for collective vigilance. The story is not yet over.

For now, the names of Stanley M. Robinson, Enrique “Flaco” Vega, and Cassandra West are etched together in the ledger of a June crime saga that may well become a watershed moment in Morris County’s approach to mental health, homelessness, and public safety.