Columbus, Ga. — In a somber courtroom setting in Columbus on Friday, a couple faced the gravity of the allegations concerning the death of their 6-week-old son. Ryan McMillen and Ariel Simmons are charged with second-degree murder and child cruelty following the infant’s death, pronounced on March 2.
During the hearing, the emotional toll was evident as Simmons, tearful, stood next to McMillen while details of their son’s tragic death were discussed. Bethany Thompson, an investigator with the special victims unit of the Columbus Police Department, provided a harrowing account of the events leading to the infant’s demise.
According to Thompson, by the time the baby was rushed to the hospital, it was already too late for medical intervention. “Doctors instructed nurses to cease CPR noting the onset of rigor mortis,” she explained. Additionally, Thompson revealed troubling details, including the presence of methamphetamine found in a pill bottle with Simmons’ name and severe bruising on the baby.
“The child exhibited signs of lividity, indicating prolonged pressure on his face, left ear, stomach, and chest,” Thompson stated, pointing out the bluish-purple discoloration of the skin typically associated with post-mortem changes.
The circumstances of the infant’s discovery were particularly distressing. Thompson recounted that Ryan McMillen explained he found the baby beneath a blanket and lying on a Boppy pillow, which is commonly used for nursing, with the pillow wrapped around the child’s head after he and Simmons had been sleeping in the same bed.
Despite the grim evidence, family members expressed disbelief over the allegations, asserting the couple’s innocence and unintentional harm. “He would never intentionally hurt his child. He loved his kids very much,” said McMillieon, a motherly figure in the family.
Echoing this sentiment, Keyanna Marshall, the defense attorney for Simmons, argued that the incident was a tragic accident, not an act of intentional harm. “It emerged today in court that the bruises found could be consistent with co-sleeping accidents,” Marshall stated, suggesting a non-malicious explanation for the injuries.
The case against McMillen and Simmons raises critical questions about child safety, parental responsibility, and the tragic outcomes that can emerge from co-sleeping practices. As the legal proceedings continue, the community watches closely, awaiting further details and the final judgment on this heartbreaking incident.