Mom charged with murder in toddler's death, used drugs before driving into floodwaters, deputies say

BROWNSVILLE, Ky. — A Kentucky mother is facing a murder charge after her toddler son died from injuries he suffered during recent flooding in Edmonson County.

According to WBKO and WNKY, Alexandra Richardson, 28, of Bowling Green, was arrested Wednesday on charges of murder, wanton endangerment and operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs after her 20-month-old son, Carson McCollough, died at a hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, late Tuesday. She also was charged with possessing drugs and drug paraphernalia, officials said.

An arrest warrant obtained by WBKO alleged that Carson and Richardson's 7-year-old son were in the vehicle Monday when their mother "wantonly drove ... around a 'road closed' sign and into a flooded creek" on Oak Hill Road. Although Richardson and the older boy escaped the waters, the toddler was swept away, WBKO reported. Rescue crews found Carson and rushed him to a Bowling Green hospital, authorities said. A helicopter then flew the boy to Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, where he died, according to WBKO.

In a Wednesday news release, the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office said Richardson "made admissions to using methamphetamine and marijuana," and blood tests taken Monday showed both drugs were in her system, WNKY reported. A search of Richardson's home uncovered what appeared to be "a small amount" of the drugs, according to the news station.

Richardson is being held at the Hart County Jail. Deputies also arrested her boyfriend, 56-year-old William Suttle, on charges of possessing drugs and drug paraphernalia, WNKY reported.

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