DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. — A Douglasville mother was arrested and charged with murder in the death of her 3-year-old child from "exposure to the elements," according to the sheriff's office.
Douglas County Sheriff's Office deputies said that Uriha Ridge was found in the woods with her two small children far from Fox Hall Resort, a hotel she had been staying at last Tuesday.
Deputies said the children were "soaking wet" and the temperatures had been below freezing throughout the entire night. Ridge and her two children were rushed to the hospital, where her 3-year-old died from what deputies said was from being outside all night long.
The investigation revealed that Ridge had taken drugs before going out to the woods with her children and during the time in the woods, according to deputies. Ridge allegedly left the resort hotel off Capps Ferry Road in Douglasville around midnight on Jan. 16 and did not call for help until 11:51 a.m. the same morning -- nearly a full 12 hours later.
Deputies said they believe that the drugs Ridge was on are responsible for her taking her 3-year-old and 7-year-old children into the woods, dressed in thin clothes and staying out in the woods in the rain and sub-freezing temperatures for hours before her toddler died and the young child was hospitalized.
Ridge is being held at the Douglas County Jail without bond on the following charges:
- Felony murder
- Two counts of first-degree cruelty to children
- Two counts of second-degree cruelty to children
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office said they are still investigating what happened.