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[BREAKING] Aunt arrested after toddler was murdered fifteen years ago in Coosa County

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ROCKFORD, Ala. – On July 31, 2003, a 2-year 9-month old Coosa County child, Alexxys Wright, was pronounced dead at the Columbus Georgia Medical Trauma Center with severe injuries. This 15-year-old cold case may finally be solved as the Coosa County Sheriff’s office has made an arrest.

Sonya Alesia Wright, 47, was taken into custody in Montgomery on Thursday, April 26 by State Bureau of Investigation’s Cold Case Investigators and transported to the Coosa County Jail. Sonya Wright is charged with Capital Murder.

Four days prior to Alexxys being pronounced dead, at 10:14 p.m. on July 27, medics arrived to a mobile home located at 1038 Coosa County Rd. 98 in Equality. The first responders found Alexxys Wright, at Sonya Wright’s home, lying in the floor on her back, appearing to be severely abused. Multiple paternal family members were present at the home, including two adults and two other children, according to SBI.

Alexxys Wright was transported to Russell Medical Center in Alexander City where she arrived unconscious, suffering from severe head trauma and injuries.

After being pronounced dead on July 31, 2003, an autopsy revealed multiple blunt force injuries to the head, chest abdomen, back along with her arms and legs. Due to these findings, the case was ruled a homicide.

Alexxys Wright

With no hard evidence to convict anyone for the murder, the case went cold.

Five years ago, Sheriff Terry Wilson formed a Cold Case Task Force consisting of his chief deputy, lead investigator and three reserve deputies to study, review and investigate cold cases. This unit, working with the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) Cold Case Investigators, conducted numerous interviews and performed a comprehensive review of the evidence. Their findings were provided to the 40th Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for presentation to the Coosa County Grand Jury.

This led to Sonya Wright’s arrest and indictment.

“It feels great that someone is going to be brought to justice. It’s a relief,” said Tanya Johnson. Johnson is the mother of the victim. Johnson, who was not present at the scene of the incident, said she has had her own beliefs of what happened on that July night 15 years ago. “As a parent you have a feeling, but you can’t point your finger and guess without evidence.”

Johnson described the visit to the paternal family member’s home as an opportunity to let that side of the family get to know Alexxys. “Alexxys was supposed to come,” Johnson said with tears in her eyes. “She just didn’t make it.”

So what brought this case back to life? Wilson said the case was completely flipped upside down and his team started from scratch. Evidence was reviewed and more interviews were conducted, which he thinks made a significant difference in the case.

Coosa County Sheriff Terry Wilson briefed media on the arrest on Monday, April 30, 2018.

“We have one shot in trial and we believe we can prove it in trial,” said John Wall. Wall is with SBI.

Wright bailed out of the Coosa County Jail Monday. She was being held on $100,000 bond.


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