A Lauderdale County mother is charged with murder in connection with the drowning death of her toddler son.
According to Lauderdale County Sheriff Ward Calhoun, law enforcement responded to a disturbance call on Bolen Long Creek Road around 8 p.m. on Tuesday evening. Upon arriving, police found the dead body of a 2-year-old boy.
Adrienne McDevitt, the child’s mother, was promptly taken to a local hospital following the discovery. Police have not explained why the mother was transported to a medical facility rather than a detention center.
“We are still of course awaiting the results in the coming days of an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death, but based upon our investigation, we have charged Adrienne McDevitt with murder,” Calhoun said at a press conference on Wednesday.
McDevitt is in the custody of the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department at a local medical facility and will be booked into the Lauderdale County Detention Center once she is released from care.
Calhoun explained that investigators found initial evidence that leads them to believe the boy was drowned, although the investigation into the case is ongoing with more questions to answer. The initial 911 call reporting the disturbance was in relation to a domestic dispute, but the individuals involved in the spat had reportedly separated by the time deputies arrived.
“This is certainly a tragic event for this family and for our community, and I would ask the citizens of our community who are faithful, praying people, to pray for this family and for our department,” Calhoun said. “It is a difficult job for these men and women to do, but they have done that job professionally, and we will treat this case like we do other cases where it will be thoroughly investigated and then present it to a grand jury for their consideration what that is appropriate.”
McDevitt’s bond has been set at $500,000.
