A Georgia mother was high on cocaine and marijuana when she took her two young children into the woods on a frigid night, resulting in the death of a 3-year-old boy, authorities said.
Uriha Ridge, 35, has been charged with felony murder and four counts of cruelty to children stemming from her fateful outing, which lasted nearly 12 hours while temperatures dipped into the 20s.
Ridge took his 3-year-old daughter, Alina Pascal, and 7-year-old son to a wooded area near the Foxhall Resort in Douglasville, where the family was staying, the night of Jan. 16, according to a Sheriff’s Office statement. of Douglas County.
The mother had allegedly used drugs before and during the excursion, and spent hours with her children dressed in scanty clothing wandering in the woods after getting lost.
“Uriha is believed to have entered the woods at Foxhall Resort with his children at around 12:00 am and did not call for help until the following morning at 11:51 am, despite having a cell phone with a properly charged battery,” officials said. saying.
When the mother and children were found and rescued, they were soaked and frozen, having spent the entire night outside.
Uriha Ridge was allegedly high on cocaine and marijuana when police say she took her children into the woods in freezing weather, resulting in the death of her 3-year-old daughter. cnn
Ridge’s son was taken to a hospital and survived, but his daughter could not be saved and died from suspected “exposure to the elements,” the sheriff’s office said.
“He caused the death of Alina Pascal, a human being, a child, by taking said child into the woods in the rain and freezing temperatures with minimal clothing for a period of over 11 hours, causing the child to suffer hypothermia and die. for exposure,” Assistant District Attorney Lauren Wallace said during Ridge’s first court appearance Thursday, station WJCL reported.
Ridge remained impassive as the prosecutor laid out the charges against him.
Deputy Assistant District Attorney Lauren Wallace said in court that Ridge kept his children wandering in the woods for nearly 12 hours. cnn
Investigators wrote that “Ridge’s illegal drug use is believed to be the root cause of why Uriha Ridge took her two young children into the woods, minimally clothed, in subfreezing temperatures and rain for more than eleven hours”.
Ridge’s criminal record includes past accusations of endangering his daughter, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.
In November 2023, she was arrested for allegedly slapping Alina and dropping her after getting drunk at a bar, according to a warrant.
Ridge allegedly had a fully charged cell phone with her, but did not call for help until noon the next day. cnn
Ridge was granted $5,000 bail in that case and was allowed to retain custody of his children.
A day after Alina’s death, the district attorney asked a judge to revoke that bond.
Ridge is currently being held in the county jail without bond.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn