A mother in North Carolina is accused of killing her infant son while co-sleeping with the child, years after she and the boy's father pleaded guilty to charges related to the death of another baby under their care, according to the Monroe Police Department.
Background
The case marks the second time Natricia Ann Wright, now 27, has faced allegations in connection with the death of a child. In May 2020, authorities say a 5-month-old boy died after suffering chronic malnutrition. Emergency responders were called to an unresponsive child on May 20, 2020, and pronounced the infant dead at the scene.
An arrest warrant obtained by regional media outlets alleged that Wright and the child's father failed to provide adequate food or healthcare for months spanning most of, if not all, the child's life. The timeframe listed in the warrant ran from December 2019 through May 2020. Both were charged in August 2020.
Three years later, in 2023, both Wright and the father pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of placing a child at risk of harm or willfully abandoning a child. They were placed on probation as part of their sentences.
The Investigation
On May 18, at approximately 10 a.m., Monroe police responded to a home on Bragg Street in Monroe after receiving a report of an unresponsive infant. Officers said they immediately began lifesaving efforts, and medical personnel arrived and did the same, but the infant was pronounced dead.
Detectives launched an investigation and "uncovered that the infant died as a result of co-sleeping," according to law enforcement. After carefully reviewing the facts over nearly three months, detectives determined criminal charges were appropriate.
On Thursday, police charged Wright with involuntary manslaughter and felony child abuse. She was booked into the Union County Detention Center on a $750,000 secured bond.
"First and foremost, our hearts go out to this child and everyone affected by this heartbreaking loss," said Monroe Police Chief Rhett Bolen in a statement. "There is nothing that can adequately express the tragedy of losing a child, and we recognize that this investigation has been incredibly difficult for everyone involved. Our detectives have spent nearly three months carefully working to understand exactly what happened and to make decisions based on facts and evidence. These charges are the result of that investigation and the specific circumstances uncovered by our detectives."
Key Takeaways
- Natricia Ann Wright, 27, is charged with involuntary manslaughter and felony child abuse in connection with a 2-month-old's death in Monroe, North Carolina.
- Police allege the infant died as a result of co-sleeping on May 18 at a Bragg Street residence.
- Wright previously pleaded guilty in August 2023 to charges related to the 2020 death of her 5-month-old son, who authorities say suffered chronic malnutrition.
- She is being held at the Union County Detention Center on a $750,000 secured bond.
What's Next
Wright's next court appearance is scheduled for September 24. The case remains under investigation by the Monroe Police Department.