Background: Bodycam footage of Riley Donaldson”s arrest (Southfield Police Department via WXYZ). Inset: Riley Donaldson (Southfield Police Department).
A woman who allegedly shot her mother dead at her home in Michigan in the midst of a custody fight told police during her arrest that she was “God.”
Riley Donaldson, 22, is in custody at the Oakland County Jail after being denied bond during her arraignment on Oct. 10. Donaldson is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of her mother, 45-year-old Ada Mae Simmons-Jones, on Oct. 5. During a press conference on Tuesday, Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren provided details about the alleged crime, including the possibility that Donaldson’s motive may have been related to the custody of her 3-year-old daughter.
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Barren said that the 77-year-old mother-in-law of Simmons-Jones, who lived with her, was in the home on the night of Oct. 5, along with Donaldson’s 3-year-old. According to police, the older woman heard “approximately three to four gunshots and then heard someone run outside the front door.” She then called her son, Simmons-Jones’ husband, who called 911.
Police responded to the scene at 11:50 p.m. and found surveillance video from a neighbor’s house. The video, police said, showed Donaldson’s vehicle pull up to the home moments before the 911 call was placed. Barren said that just “minutes later,” Donaldson is seen on the video getting back into the car and “quickly speed[ing] away from the crime scene.” Cellphone data also placed Donaldson at her mother’s home at the time of the alleged shooting.
According to police, Donaldson left her purse while she was “in a hurry to flee from the scene.” The purse contained “identifying items.” Barren also stated that police believe she concealed her weapon inside the purse when she went inside her mother’s home.
Donaldson’s cellphone was tracked to her home state of Ohio, where Barren said that she stayed for about two hours before heading back to Detroit. The Southfield Police Department worked with local Ohio police departments in an attempt to locate the alleged murder weapon, which Barren stated has not been recovered yet.
Detectives with the Southfield Police Department and the Oakland County Auto Theft Task Force tracked Donaldson to a CVS in Detroit on Oct. 6. Donaldson was in the front passenger seat of the car seen on surveillance cameras and accompanied by three unnamed men. Barren stated that the three men are not connected with the homicide case.
When providing more background on what Donaldson’s motives could have been, Barren pointed to an August incident in which Donaldson’s 3-year-old was reported missing by Simmons-Jones, who was the legal guardian of the little girl. At the time, Barren said, Simmons-Jones said that her daughter was suffering from a mental illness and allegedly stole her car when she took off with the little girl and the family dog.
The little girl and the car were later located. The dog was never found. Simmons-Jones declined to press charges, but “did petition for her daughter to be hospitalized.” Donaldson then underwent a mental evaluation, but Barren did not provide further details.
During the press conference, police showed bodycam footage of Donaldson’s arrest. While she was taken into custody without incident, Donaldson can be heard referring to herself as “God” when asked by an officer to identify herself. Barren said, “When individuals do that declaration, they’re letting us know that they decide who lives and who dies.”
Barren stated that Donaldson “immediately asked for a lawyer” when police attempted to interview her.
Police stated that the little girl is in the custody of her grandfather.
Donaldson is charged with first-degree murder and a felony firearms charge. She is in custody at the Oakland County Jail where she is being held without bond. Her next court date is scheduled for Oct. 22.
