A tragic and deeply disturbing story has unfolded, starting in Georgia and ending with the capture of a 23-year-old mother in New York. Gloria Wright, a pregnant woman accused of murdering her 1-year-old son, sparked a days-long manhunt before U.S. Marshals finally located her in Rochester, New York. Authorities had been racing against time, fearing she might harm herself or her unborn child while on the run.
Investigators from the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office, where the case originated, shared the heartbreaking details. “We have a small child who lost his life at the hands of his mother,” said Sheriff’s investigator Grote Levett in an interview before Wright’s arrest. “We need to bring this mother into custody for her safety and that of her unborn baby.”
The tragic events began on January 8, 2025, in Rockdale County, Georgia, when officers responded to a call about a child who wasn’t breathing. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arrived on the scene and tried to save the 1-year-old, but sadly, the little boy was pronounced dead at the hospital. According to investigators, the boy had suffered blunt force trauma to his head, resulting in acute skull fractures. Medical experts ruled out the possibility of an accidental fall, leading authorities to charge Wright with first-degree murder and cruelty to children.
After the incident, Wright fled Georgia and made her way to New York, evading authorities for several days. Details about what prompted the tragic event or why she went to New York remain unclear. However, investigators revealed that Wright had spoken with an officer on the same day her son died but was not taken into custody at that time.
The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office described Wright as having a tattoo on her face and connections to several counties in Georgia, including Newton, Henry, and Rockdale. Determined to find her, law enforcement offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to her capture and urged the public to help.
On Saturday, U.S. Marshals found Wright in Rochester, New York, and took her into custody. The sheriff’s office issued a statement thanking the public and law enforcement for their assistance, saying, “The fugitive Gloria Wright has been located and taken into custody. This arrest was made possible with the help of the U.S. Marshals, and we are grateful for the public’s ongoing support throughout this investigation.”
This heartbreaking story leaves many unanswered questions, but authorities remain focused on seeking justice for the young boy whose life was tragically cut short.
