A 35-year-old mother from Douglas County, Georgia, has been charged with felony murder following the death of her three-year-old daughter.
Authorities state that Uriha Ridge, allegedly under the influence of cocaine and marijuana, took her two children, Alina, aged three, and Elijah, aged seven, into the woods near Foxhall Resort in freezing temperatures on January 16, 2024, around midnight.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office reported a distress call from Ridge just before noon, leading to their discovery by authorities with help from resort employees.
The children were found in minimal clothing and soaking wet, having endured rain and then sub-freezing temperatures overnight.
Ridge claimed that she got lost in the woods, but investigators revealed that Ridge had a cell phone that was fully charged and functional at the time of their rescue.
Alina’s death at a local hospital is attributed to prolonged exposure to the elements. The condition of the seven-year-old sibling, treated for related conditions, remains undisclosed.
Court records show that Ridge has a history of child cruelty. In 2022, based on the details in a warrant, she allegedly assaulted Alina when the child was merely two years old. Additionally, it’s reported that she dropped the young toddler during a period of severe intoxication.
She was granted a bond and was able to keep her children. After Alina’s death, authorities have requested that the bond be revoked.
Ridge faces two counts of first-degree cruelty to children, two counts of second-degree cruelty to children, and one count of felony murder.
She is currently held without bond in the Douglas County Jail, awaiting her first court appearance.
Ridge’s son Elijah is being taken care of by other family members.
