An Arkansas man has been sentenced to 60 years in prison after pleading guilty to the horrific murder of his girlfriend’s 5-year-old son.
Nathan Bridges, 34, pleaded guilty on July 15 to first-degree murder and first-degree battery in the death of the child, Blu Rolland.
Bridges confessed to drowning the child in a toilet as punishment for biting his finger and subsequently burying the body under the floorboards of their home.
Read: Alabama Father Charged With Capital Murder In Deaths Of Wife And Four Children
Blu’s body was discovered on December 16, 2022, which would have been his sixth birthday, wrapped in multiple layers of plastic bags and a blanket beneath newly nailed floorboards. An autopsy determined the cause of death to be drowning.
Bridges’ girlfriend and Blu’s mother, Ashley Rolland, initially misled authorities but later confessed to her father about the boy’s death and the location of his body.
Rolland faces charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, endangering the welfare of a minor, and permitting child abuse.
Read: Police In Florida Solve 24-Year-Old Cold Case Brutal Murder Using DNA Evidence
Bridges’ sentencing hearing is scheduled for later this month. The case serves as a tragic reminder of the importance of reporting suspected child abuse and the ongoing need for vigilance in protecting vulnerable children.
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