***UPDATE***

In April 2024, Alexxys’s family reached out to let Proejct: Cold Case know that the charges had been dropped. The family is devastated.

Woman charged in 2003 violent death of toddler niece

April 30, 2018 | By Carol Robinson – al.com

A Montgomery woman is behind bars, charged in the violent 2003 death of her toddler niece.

The Coosa County Sheriff’s Office on Monday announced the capital murder charge against Sonya Alesia Wright, said Sheriff Terry Wilson. A grand jury indicted the 47-year-old woman in the 2003 slaying of Alexxys Wright, who died just shy of her third birthday.

Deputies were dispatched on July 27, 2003, just before 10 p.m., to a mobile home at 1038 Coosa County Road 98 in the town of Equality. Wilson said the initial report was that a child had fallen and was unresponsive.

Alexxys was found lying on the floor on her back. She was rushed to Russell Medical Center in Alexander City. Upon her arrival at the emergency room, she was unconscious and suffering from severe head injuries.

Because of dire injuries, Alexxys was life-flighted to a trauma center in Columbus, Ga. Four days later, the toddler was pronounced dead. Doctors said her injuries were consistent with being violently shaken.

Wilson said an autopsy showed multiple blunt force injuries to Alexxys’ head, chest, abdomen, back, and her arms and legs. The death was ruled a homicide, but no arrests were ever made.

Alexxys Wright died July 31, 2003

Five years ago, Wilson formed a Cold Case Task Force consisting of Chief Deputy Joseph Davidson, a lead investigator and three reserve deputies to study, review and investigate unsolved crimes.

Working with ALEA’s State Bureau of Investigation, the task force conducted numerous interviews and reviewed the evidence in Alexxys’ case. The investigators presented their findings to a Coosa County grand jury, which returned the capital murder indictment against Wright on April 20.

On Thursday, April 26, task force officials, U.S. Marshals, and SBI agents arrested Wright in Montgomery. She remains jailed on a $100,000 bond.

“Today we feel a measure of justice has been achieved for Alexxys and her mother, Tanya Johnson,” Wilson said. “Works can’t express my appreciation for the hard work the sheriff’s Cold Case Task Force and the SBI Cold Case investigators put forth to bringing closure to this family.”

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