Augusta District Attorney Jared Williams announced Thursday that new evidence has cleared several family members of murder in the alleged August hypothermia death of three-month-old Josiah Seright.
The child’s mother, September Seright, father, Bennie Nash and grandmother, Lamisha Seright, had been indicted for malice murder, felony murder and child cruelty in his death. Authorities at the time said the child died from hypothermia and respiratory failure after being wrapped in a wet blanket and placed in a wet car seat in front of a motel air conditioning unit set at 61 degrees.
But after receiving an autopsy report from the GBI and reviewing additional records, the DA’s office determined the evidence does not support the murder charges, Williams said.
While the cause and manner of the child’s death remain “undetermined,” his body temperature was greater than 95 degrees at the time of his death, too warm for the cause to be considered hypothermia, the DA said.
The job of a prosecutor is to “seek the truth,” not prosecute cases, Williams said.
“Your district attorney’s office is committed to finding the truth and doing what justice demands. Our prayers remain with all those who loved Josiah, and with all our community’s children.”
