Parents charged with murder after six week-old baby died of unspeakable injuries

A young couple from Columbus, Georgia, has been charged with murder in the second degree following the tragic death of their six-week-old baby. Ariel Simmons and Ryan McMilleon now face murder and child cruelty charges after their infant was found unresponsive in their home earlier this month. Officers were called to a home after reports that an infant was not breathing on March 2, just before 1pm, as reported by ABC-affiliate WTVM. The baby was rushed to a local hospital but was tragically pronounced dead upon arrival. Investigators claim that the baby was discovered lifeless, wrapped in a sweatshirt with a pill bottle full of methamphetamine with Simmons's name on it nearby. Once the baby arrived at the hospital, doctors quickly realized there was nothing they could do. 'The doctors advised nurses to stop CPR as the baby was already set in rigor mortis,' Investigator Bethany Thompson told WTVM. The infant also showed serious bruising and signs of 'lividity,' which is a bluish-purple discoloration of the skin that occurs after death.

Ariel Simmons and Ryan McMilleon (pictured) now face murder and child cruelty charges after their infant was found unresponsive in their home earlier this month

Investigators claim that the baby was discovered lifeless, wrapped in a sweatshirt with a pill bottle full of methamphetamine with Simmons's name on it nearby (Ariel Simmons pictured)

'I observed the child, and there was lividity from possible pressure located on the face, left ear, and the stomach and chest of the baby,' Thompson told WTVM. The parents claim the injuries were from 'co-sleeping' with the baby. Thompson said McMilleon claimed Simmons was sleeping when he had woken up, and when he checked on the baby, he realized 'it was over the baby’s head.' 'Ryan stated when the blanket was pulled off the baby, the baby was lying flat on a Boppy, a pillow used for nursing, and it was around the baby’s head,' said Thompson. The parents were first hit with unrelated charges. Authorities first arrested McMilleon for possession of methamphetamine and an outstanding warrant for contempt of court. Simmons was also arrested on a truancy warrant. But after the new evidence emerged, police hit the couple with further charges. On March 17, police issued warrants for murder and child cruelty against both parents, and they were arrested the following day.

Video footage reveals the moment Simmons (pictured) burst into tears in the court room Friday as the judge announced the charges

The parents claim the injuries were from 'co-sleeping' with the baby (McMilleon in court)

Video footage reveals the moment Simmons burst into tears in the court room Friday as the judge announced the charges. Despite the gruesome allegations, family members insist the parents would never intentionally harm their child. 'He would never intentionally hurt his child. He loved his kids very much,' McMilleon's mother told WTVM . Defense Attorney Keyanna Marshall, who is representing Simmons, also argued that her client was a good mother who made a tragic mistake. 'I think that it came out in court today that the bruises that the baby did get are consistent with co-sleeping. It was truly an accident,' said Marshall. In the US, approximately 3,700 babies die each year from sleep-related causes, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). These deaths include sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation, and accidental strangulation.