Woman holding dead toddler on bus arrested

Atlanta, Georgia -- A mother has been arrested after she walked off of a bus holding a dead 2-year-old child in her arms.

The woman, identified as 19-year-old Alexis Washington, was traveling on a Greyhound bus from Greenville, South Carolina to New Orleans when she exited the bus at a stop in Atlanta, holding the child. It is unclear how the child died but Washington told police the baby was cold.

Washington reportedly told detectives that she knew her daughter was sick and she tried to get to a hospital. She said she even performed CPR on her.

The baby was taken to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Two witnesses said they noticed Washington on the Peters Street Bridge acting hysterical and upset. That's when they called police.

Washington was charged with cruelty to children 2nd degree.

The Medical Examiner has been notified and the cause of death will be determined after an autopsy is complete.