ST. LOUIS, MO – A mother in St. Louis, Missouri has been arrested after allegedly filming herself smothering her infant son with her hand and a blanket. Emma Rigdon, 20, is believed to have committed the act on April 15 at her home on Warren Street. Rigdon is facing two counts of abuse or neglect of a child, a class D felony. The incident came to light after Rigdon shared the videos with a friend, stating that the act made her feel happy and gave her an “adrenaline rush.”
According to court documents, Rigdon first pinched and slapped the boy’s leg, causing him to cry. She then filmed herself covering his nose and mouth, making it difficult for the child to breathe and causing him to flail his arms and legs. Rigdon sent the video to a friend, confessing that she felt an adrenaline rush. She reportedly made a second video in which she placed a blanket over the child’s face, causing him to cry and frantically grab at the blanket. This video was also shared with a friend.
In disturbing text messages, Rigdon allegedly expressed a desire to kill the child, but stated that she did not want to go to jail. She wrote, “I be stopping right before he dies. Last time he was blue,” and “I really wanna kill him but I don’t want to go to jail so. It’s unfortunate. He’s just gonna have to pay for his existence.”
Thankfully, the infant survived the abuse, although it is unclear who is currently caring for him. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department obtained the videos and text messages 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, but her attorney’s name has not been listed in the court file.
The motive behind Rigdon’s alleged actions remains unknown at this time. Authorities have not provided any explanation as to why she would want to harm her child. The case continues to be investigated as prosecutors gather evidence and build their case.
This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the importance of recognizing and reporting child abuse. If you suspect any form of child abuse, please contact your local authorities or child protective services immediately.