An Arkansas mother has been sentenced to a term of 40 years in prison for her role in the abuse that led to the death of her five-year-old son. Ashley Rolland, who is now 30, entered a guilty plea for two counts of permitting abuse of a minor in the Lee County Circuit Court, according to WREG.
Her son, Blu Rolland, would have turned 6 on December 16, 2022, the day he was found under the floorboards of his family's home. The boy's paternal grandmother, Taylor Rolland, had reported concerns about Ashley to DHS and others several times, with no apparent action taken, as Action News 5 recounted.
Investigations led by Arkansas State Police agents found that another child, Ashley Rolland's six-year-old daughter, suffered injuries, presenting with what appeared to be scalp burns and other signs of abuse. Nathan Bridges, 34, Rolland's partner, was arrested along with her and charged for the resulting crimes. When taken into custody, Ashley Rolland had visible bruises including a black eye, WREG indicated.
Both Rolland and Bridges faced severe legal repercussions for their roles in the tragic case: Bridges pled guilty to First-Degree Murder and First-Degree Battery on July 15, which lead to a 60-year prison sentence. In her confession, Ashley Rolland disclosed to police that after her son, Blu, angered Bridges by biting his finger, the boy was treated with a merciless punishment — Bridges thrust the child's head in the toilet until he drowned, as reported by Arkansas Online. Subsequently, Bridges buried the boy under the floor of their home.
A judge handed down a 60-year prison sentence to Bridges.
