LEE COUNTY, Arkansas – A 34-year-old Arkansas man, Nathan Bridges, has been sentenced to 60 years in prison after confessing to the murder of his girlfriend’s 5-year-old son. Bridges admitted to drowning the child in a toilet bowl as a reaction to the boy biting his finger.
Bridges pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree battery in the death of Blu Rolland. The court ordered Bridges to serve 40 years for the murder charge and an additional 20 years for the battery charge, with the sentences to be served consecutively.
The child’s mother, Ashley Rolland, aged 30, is also facing charges in connection with her son’s death. Rolland is currently awaiting trial and has been charged with capital murder, permitting child abuse, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, child endangerment, and battery.
The case began on December 16 when Rolland’s parents sought assistance from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office to collect their grandchildren from Rolland’s residence. Rolland presented her daughter but claimed Blu was not at home. The authorities grew suspicious after noticing scabbing on the girl’s head, which Rolland attributed to an allergic reaction.
First responders were then informed by Rolland’s father that his granddaughter had revealed Blu was dead and inside the house. Deputies discovered a recently boarded area in the house, where they found disturbed earth. The strong odor of decay added to their growing concerns.
Upon removing the floorboards, they uncovered a small body wrapped in plastic bags and a blanket. A subsequent examination by the Arkansas State Crime Lab confirmed the body to be Blu’s.
In interviews following the discovery, Rolland disclosed chilling details about the tragedy. According to Rolland, Blu died on September 9, 2022, after biting Bridges’ finger. She alleged that Bridges then drowned Blu in the toilet as a form of punishment. Rolland also accused Bridges of causing injuries to their daughter, claiming he had subjected the girl to scalding water in the bathtub as punishment for her behavior. Rolland is scheduled to appear in court again on September 17, 2024.
The sentencing of Nathan Bridges sends a strong message about the severity of his actions, while Ashley Rolland awaits her own trial as the legal process unfolds.