Pregnant Mom Who Was on the Run After 1-Year-Old Died Is Captured & Charged With Son’s Death

On January 8, 2025, Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call about an unresponsive person. A short time later, they arrived and found the individual was a 1-year-old boy. Emergency responders did their best to save the child’s life, but staff at an area hospital pronounced him dead a short time later. The baby’s mother, 23-year-old Gloria Wright, spoke to police after her son’s death but then seemingly disappeared.

Authorities offered a $5,000 reward to anyone with information leading to Wright’s arrest, per a news release from the sheriff’s office. Officials wanted her on charges of first-degree murder and first-degree cruelty to children, both felonies.

“We have a small child that has lost its life in the hands of its mother and we would like to get this mother in custody because she is currently carrying another child right now, so we would like to get her in custody for her safety and for the safety of that child,” Rockdale County Sheriff’s investigator Grote Leviet told WSB-TV.

According to court documents obtained by the news outlet, investigators believe Wright intentionally caused her son’s injuries.

“A telephone call with the medical examiner who assisted in the autopsy did conclude that the acute skull fractures were not the result of an accidental fall or drop,” the warrant reads.

Police continued their search for Wright and ultimately arrested her on January 18 in Rochester, New York, nearly two weeks later.

“The fugitive Gloria Wright has been located and taken into custody in Rochester, New York. The arrest was made possible with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals. We sincerely appreciate the public’s ongoing support and assistance throughout this investigation,” Deputy C. Nesbitt of the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office noted in a release on Facebook.

Many commenters speculated Wright wouldn’t have left the area if she was innocent.

One wrote, “The fact that she made it wayyyyy to New York is insane.” Another person agreed and commented, “If she wasn’t guilty she wouldn’t be in NY.”

“Good. I hope she never gets freedom again,’ someone else wrote.

At least one person hopes Wright receives the help she needs. “Mental issues or not anyone that would kill a child there is no passion for that person just hope she gets help or gets whatever is coming to her just saying,” she wrote.

Someone else shared praise for law enforcement, writing, “That was fast. The US Marshals are the best fugitive squad there is.”

If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child) or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.