MONROE, N.C. — A North Carolina mother has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and felony child abuse following the death of her 2-month-old infant, a case authorities say involved an unsafe co-sleeping arrangement.
Monroe police arrested 27-year-old Natricia Ann Wright on Thursday, Aug. 13, following an investigation that began nearly three months earlier. Wright was booked into the Union County Detention Center and given a $750,000 secured bond.
Police said officers were called to a home on Bragg Street in Monroe at approximately 10 a.m. on May 18 after receiving a report of an unresponsive infant. Emergency personnel attempted life-saving measures, but the child died.
Investigators later determined that the infant’s death was connected to co-sleeping, or bed-sharing, in which an infant sleeps in the same bed as an adult.
According to an arrest warrant cited by WBTV, investigators allege Wright placed the 2-month-old in an unsafe sleeping environment. Authorities said the circumstances prevented the infant from being able to breathe, resulting in serious bodily injury and ultimately the child’s death.
The investigation continued for nearly three months before detectives arrested Wright and charged her with involuntary manslaughter and felony child abuse.
The case has drawn additional attention because Wright previously faced charges in connection with the death of another infant.
Previous Infant Death Case
In 2020, Wright and the father of another child were charged after Wright’s 5-month-old son was found unresponsive at a home in Chester County, South Carolina.
Authorities said deputies responded to the home in May 2020 after receiving a 911 call requesting medical assistance for an unconscious child. Emergency responders pronounced the baby dead at the scene.
Wright, who was 21 at the time, and Shederick Gallman, then 22, were subsequently charged with murder by child abuse. Investigators alleged the infant suffered from chronic malnutrition and that the parents failed to provide adequate food or medical care.
Court records cited by WBTV show the case ultimately ended with Wright and Gallman pleading guilty in 2023 to a lesser charge of placing a child at risk of harm or willfully abandoning a child. Both were placed on probation.
The previous case is separate from the current prosecution, and Wright has not been convicted of the new charges stemming from the May 2026 death.
Dangers of Bed-Sharing With Infants
The latest case also highlights longstanding warnings surrounding infant sleep environments. Pillows, blankets, mattresses and an adult’s body can obstruct an infant’s airway during bed-sharing, increasing the danger of suffocation.
Authorities allege those risks played a role in the death of Wright’s 2-month-old child. The criminal charges, however, represent allegations, and prosecutors will have to prove the case in court.
As of the latest reporting, Wright remained in the Union County Detention Center under the $750,000 secured bond.
The investigation was conducted by the Monroe Police Department.
