Three people, including two women, have been arrested in connection with the tragic death of three-month-old Josiah Noel Seright.
The infant died of hypothermia after being wrapped in a wet blanket and placed in front of an air conditioner at a Budget Inn hotel in Augusta, Georgia.
Authorities have charged 19-year-old September De’Asia Seright, the baby’s mother, along with 42-year-old Diane Lamish Seright and 39-year-old Antonio Bennie Nash, with felony murder and second-degree child cruelty.
The incident, which occurred early on a Tuesday morning, has shocked the community and raised serious concerns about infant care practices.
According to arrest warrants obtained by WLBT, Josiah was placed in his car seat in the hotel bathroom while his mother took a shower. Afterwards, he was wrapped in a wet blanket and positioned in front of an air conditioner set to 61 degrees Fahrenheit.
Tragically, while Josiah was exposed to the cold air, September Seright was reportedly lying on a couch, and the other two suspects were in bed, unaware of the danger the baby was in.
Josiah was discovered unresponsive and was later pronounced dead at 2:30 a.m. at a nearby hospital. His death underscores the critical need for education on safe practices for infant care.
Each year, preventable causes such as unsafe sleeping environments and improper temperature regulation lead to the deaths of thousands of infants.
Investigation into Josiah’s death is still ongoing.
