In a shocking turn of events, a Michigan woman accused of fatally shooting her mother amid a custody dispute allegedly claimed she was “God” during her arrest. The suspect, 22-year-old Riley Donaldson, remains in custody at the Oakland County Jail after her bail request was denied in court on October 10. She faces charges of first-degree murder for the death of her mother, 45-year-old Ada Mae Simmons-Jones, on October 5. During a recent press briefing, Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren highlighted that the shooting might have been driven by a custody battle over Donaldson’s 3-year-old daughter.

On the night of the tragic incident, Simmons-Jones’ 77-year-old mother-in-law was present in the home, alongside Donaldson’s young daughter. According to authorities, the elder woman reported hearing “around three to four gunshots” followed by the sound of someone fleeing the premises. She immediately contacted her son, who is Simmons-Jones’ husband, and he swiftly alerted the police.

Officers arrived at the residence at 11:50 p.m., and a neighbor’s surveillance footage proved crucial. The video, as described by police, captures Donaldson’s vehicle arriving at the scene just before the emergency call was made. Chief Barren explained that the footage shows Donaldson re-entering her car and “speeding away from the crime scene” shortly after. Furthermore, cellphone records corroborated her presence at the location during the time of the shooting.

In her hasty departure, Donaldson reportedly left behind her purse, which contained items that identified her. According to Chief Barren, it is suspected that she hid the firearm in her purse before entering her mother’s house.

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.