(Richmond County Sheriff’s Office)
Police in Georgia have charged a mother and two other individuals with murder following the tragic death of a 3-month-old baby, who was allegedly wrapped in a wet blanket and placed in front of an air conditioning unit. The chilling incident occurred at a Budget Inn hotel in Augusta, raising serious concerns about child neglect and endangerment.
On Tuesday, August 6, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office received a call about “an unknown situation” at the hotel located at 1616 Gordon Highway. The call came in shortly after 2:00 a.m., prompting an immediate response from law enforcement, told The Augusta Press.
Upon their arrival, officers discovered infant Josiah Noel Seright in a dire state. The baby was found wrapped in a wet blanket and placed in a car seat directly next to an air conditioning unit, as reported by WJBF. The unit was allegedly set to 61 degrees for an undetermined period, while the baby’s mother, September De’asia Seright, 19, and two other adults, Lamisha Diane Seright, 42, and Bennie Antonio Nash, 39, were present in the room. Shockingly, the adults were reportedly lounging on a couch and bed, seemingly indifferent to the baby’s condition.
Josiah was immediately transported to Wellstar MCG Health for emergency treatment. Tragically, despite medical efforts, the infant was pronounced dead at 2:37 a.m. The preliminary investigation suggests that the baby died from hypothermia and respiratory failure, according to reports from The Augusta Chronicle.
Hypothermia, as explained by the Cleveland Clinic, occurs when the body is exposed to cold, wet, or windy conditions for an extended period. “Eventually, with continued exposure to cold temperatures, your body uses up its stored energy and your body temperature begins to fall. Hypothermia is a medical emergency and needs immediate treatment,” the clinic states. The condition is particularly dangerous for infants, who “have the highest surface area for their weight and lose heat the most rapidly.”
As the investigation continues, the gravity of the charges reflects the severity of the incident. All three adults—September De’asia Seright, Lamisha Diane Seright, and Bennie Antonio Nash—have been arrested and charged with cruelty to a child in the second degree and murder in the second degree.
This heartbreaking case serves as a grim reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by infants and the critical importance of proper care and attention in protecting the youngest and most defenseless members of society. If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
