Cases of neglect that result in the death of a child are heartbreaking. When they involve infants or young children — victims who are completely vulnerable and unable to fend for themselves — the incidents are unfathomable. Tragically, this type of crime happens all too often.
One Georgia mom now faces murder charges following the death of her 3-month-old baby. The child was left on a wet blanket in front of an air conditioner at a hotel. And the details are sickening.
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The Richmond County Sheriff's Office responded to a call at approximately 2 a.m. on August 6, 2024, according to a case report, per People. Police were dispatched to a Budget Inn hotel in Augusta, Georgia, about an "unknown situation."
After arriving, officers discovered an infant, Josiah Noel Seright, wrapped in a wet blanket while inside a car seat, WJBF-TV reported.
Allegedly, the air conditioning unit was set to 61 degrees while the mom, September De’asia Seright, lounged nearby. The child was unresponsive when law enforcement arrived. In addition to being wrapped in a wet blanket, the baby boy was placed near the cold air conditioning unit, police say.
Meanwhile, the child's mother, September De’asia Seright, 19, sat nearby with two other adults, Lamisha Diane Seright, 42, and Bennie Antonio Nash, 39, per WJBF-TV.
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Baby Josiah was rushed to Wellstar MCG Health. Tragically, he was pronounced dead at 2:27 a.m., according to the case report. An investigation is currently underway to determine the 3-month-old's cause of death.
So what was baby Josiah's cause of death? Although the results of an autopsy have not yet been shared publicly, multiple sources have reported a probable cause. Both WJBF-TV and The Augusta Press reported the baby died from hypothermia and respiratory failure, citing arrest warrants.
The three adults present during the incident are all facing serious charges. September, Lamisha, and Nash were all arrested and charged with second-degree cruelty to a child and second-degree murder.
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child), or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
