Child Dies As Result Of Water Accident: Mother Charged With Murder

Woman Also Charged With Drug DUI 

​Darren Doyle, story:
A toddler has died since being removed from life support after an accident that occurred Monday night when the boy's mother attempted to drive through high water over a bridge on a closed road. As a result, the driver, Alexandra Richardson (28) of Wingfield, has been charged with murder, DUI (drugs), and other charges.

Edmonson County Sheriff Shane Doyle said that Richardson admitted to law enforcement at the hospital that she had recently smoked both meth and marijuana. Sheriff Doyle said the sheriff's office obtained a search warrant for Richardson's medical records from the hospital and that those records showed the presence of meth and marijuana in Richardson's blood at the hospital after the accident. 

The child was removed from life support and pronounced dead at 11:40pm at the hospital, Tuesday, December 3, 2019, according to Sheriff Doyle.

A search warrant was obtained for Richardson's residence today but she was not there when officers arrived, according to the sheriff. A search with K-9 indicated the odor of drugs.  A subsequent detailed search of the residence revealed a small amount of suspected marijuana and methamphetamine. ​

Public reaction of the accident was a mixture of emotion after Richardson began posting updates on what appeared to be her own Facebook page under the name of Alexandra Sasha McCullough. Those posts have now been either deleted or blocked from public view. Richardson allegedly posted multiple pictures of the child where he appeared to be in an unresponsive or sleeping state in a neck brace and connected to various hospital equipment. Many comments reflected encouragement and support while others expressed outrage over the photos and the manner in which Richardson appeared to be handling the accident.

A Facebook Page protesting Richardson's actions was created today called "Justice For Carson, Edmonson County, KY" and has screenshots that are said to be from Richardson's Facebook account.

Richardson's mugshot from Hart County Jail for a previous meth charge in August, 2015.

Richardson has a previous arrest for meth. She was arrested on August 9, 2015 and charged with Manufacturing meth and Controlled substance endangerment to minor 4th degree, due to a three year old child also being at the scene.
 
Sheriff Doyle said posts from the Facebook Page will be subpoenaed. 

​"We have been working the case non-stop since the accident took place on Monday night," said Sheriff Doyle. "There is a proper way to do things and we wanted to be sure we did that. We know that Richardson was under the influence at the time of the accident and we also know she was aware that the road was flooded when she made the decision to drive through the area with two children in her vehicle. What we didn't know at the time was whether we would be charging her with assault or murder. Sadly, the child has died and we are proceeding accordingly."​

Arrest warrants were also obtained for Alexandra Richardson (28) for Murder, Wanton Endangerment 1st degree (2 counts), and Operating Motor Vehicle under the Influence (drugs).  She was arrested at the Edmonson County Sheriff’s Office along with William Suttle (56) and was charged additionally for possession of drugs and paraphernalia that had been found during the search of the home.  Both were lodged in the Hart County Jail.