A child is dead and three people are charged with second-degree murder and second-degree child cruelty after police say they found a 3-month-old boy wrapped in a wet blanket and put next to an air conditioning unit set to 61 degrees inside of a Budget Inn Express in Augusta, Georgia.

According to an arrest report from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office obtained by Law&Crime on Friday, the child’s mother, September De’Asia Seright, 19, was charged and so too were adults Lamisha Diane Seright, 42, and Bennie Antonio Nash, 39. All are residents of Washington, Georgia.

The nature of the relationship between the defendants was not described by police.

Richmond sheriffs said that deputies were called to respond to an “unknown situation” at a Budget Inn on Aug. 6 on Gordon Highway just after 2 a.m.

Police said that when they arrived, they located the boy, identified by the agency as Josiah Noel Seright, and that he was unresponsive.

Records show the 3-month-old was transported to a local hospital, Wellstar MCG, for his injuries. He was pronounced dead at 2:37 a.m.

Not only was the child allegedly wrapped in a wet blanket, but local ABC affiliate WJBF reported that the child was strapped into a wet car seat as well.

Officials told the outlet the boy died of hypothermia and respiratory failure. Police did not say how long the boy may have been there but according to the Augusta Press, the boy’s mother allegedly brought him into the bathroom with her while she showered and then left him in a wet blanket and placed him by the air conditioning unit. She laid in the hotel room couch, the outlet reported, while her co-defendants laid on the hotel room bed.

There will be an autopsy while an investigation goes forward.

It is unclear if any of the defendants have retained an attorney.

All are currently imprisoned at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center in Richmond County and it is unclear if bond was set.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – We’re learning new information about a missing Augusta woman whose body was found in a car in an Atlanta-area parking lot.

The Dekalb Police Department says Shekema Toran, 36, was found dead on Sunday at 2385 Wesley Chapel Road.

The police department says a suspect has been identified and warrants have been secured, but they are not able to release the names at this time.

Officials with the department says the case is being investigated by their Homicide Assault Unit.

Toran was last seen on Aug. 8, and thought to be headed for Atlanta – where her phone was last “pinned.”

Her family members have been frantically looking for her and on Monday were sharing news reports on social media of the discovery of a body in Decatur – one they were afraid could be Toran’s.

On Monday afternoon, they learned what they feared: It was her body.

Authorities have been seeking her boyfriend for questioning since she was reported missing.

In Decatur, police said they responded to a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of a Kroger in a shopping center in the 2300 block of Wesley Chapel Road around 9:42 a.m. Sunday. When they arrived, officers reportedly found a dead woman inside the vehicle. Authorities haven’t released the cause of death.

She was identified Monday as Toran, who was last seen near Diamond Lakes Park, according to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

Toran’s mother said Toran’s boyfriend of two months, Biarritz “Danate” Martin, and Toran were at her home.

After an argument started, Martin left the home after Toran’s mother asked him to leave. He returned two hours later to pick Toran up, according to the report.

According to her statement, Toran’s mother has not heard from her daughter since and said she’d gotten texts that “do not sound like her daughter.”

The report states that deputies contacted Martin’s roommates, who reported that Martin was at the home Tuesday night, but Toran was not with him.

Deputies said they made multiple attempts to contact Martin, but there was no answer.

After some time, the report states Martin returned the deputy’s call, who asked to speak with Toran multiple times.

Martin could be heard saying, “Wake up,” and smacking the dash or seat, according to deputies.

This repeated for around 10 minutes before Martin disconnected the call and did not answer on callback.

Family members were out looking for Toran on Friday.

“I’m really lost. I don’t know what to do for real,” said her brother Travoun West.

Toran was believed to be in a white 2004 Ford F-250 with Georgia tag RJW1158.

Deputies released a photo of Martin and said he’s 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs 160 pounds.

A balloon release in honor of Toran will be held on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Bernie Ward Community Center.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office at 706-821-1020 or 706-821-1080.

Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

AUGUSTA, Ga. – A Georgia senator and congressman are working together to pass a new act they believe will benefit Georgia family farmers.

Earlier this week, Sen. Jon Ossoff and Rep. Sanford Bishop, both Georgia Democrats, introduced the Protecting our Produce Act.

The act is designed to support family-operated produce farms in Georgia, and to protect them from unfair trading practices in south and central America. With Agriculture being the state’s number one industry, these foreign imports are putting the family farmer under a lot of strain right now. Senator Ossoff believes this act will help alleviate that burden.

“If family farms in Georgia are unable to make ends meet because there is a sudden influx of imports from Mexico or South America. It will provide some support to those family farms so they can make it through that tough year and survive,” said Ossoff.

Ossoff acknowledges that getting this legislation passed – like any legislation – with bi-partisan support will be challenging, but he will continue to fight for Georgia farmers.

Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.