A Missouri woman has been apprehended by local law enforcement after she was accused of filming herself as she suffocated her infant son with her hand and a blanket. The woman, identified as Emma Rigdon, 20, reportedly told a friend that the act gave her a sense of joy and an adrenaline rush.
Rigdon is now facing two charges of child abuse or neglect, a class D felony, as per a probable cause statement from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. The alleged incident took place on April 15 at a residence on Warren Street in the 1200 block.
According to the police, Rigdon was seen in the video pinching and slapping the leg of her son, causing him to cry. She then proceeded to cover the boy’s nose and mouth with her hand, which resulted in him struggling to breathe and flailing his arms and legs. Rigdon reportedly sent this video to a friend, along with a text message stating that she felt happy and experienced an adrenaline rush when she did this.
Rigdon is also accused of creating a second video where she placed a blanket over the boy’s face, causing him to cry and desperately try to remove the blanket. This video was also sent to the same friend, according to the police.
In a series of text messages to her friend, Rigdon allegedly stated that she would stop just before the boy died, even mentioning that he had turned blue during a previous incident. She also reportedly expressed a desire to kill the boy but was deterred by the fear of imprisonment. She lamented the boy’s existence, stating that he would have to pay for it.
The boy managed to survive his injuries, although it is not specified in the court documents who is currently responsible for his care. The police have not provided a motive for Rigdon’s alleged actions. The videos and text messages have been obtained and are being used as evidence.
Rigdon was taken into custody and is currently being held without bond at the St. Louis City Justice Center. Her next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday. The name of her attorney was not listed in her court file.