Georgia Mother Sentenced to Life Without Parole for Fatally ‘Whooping’ Her 4-Year-Old Son Over Potty Training, Prosecutors Say
GEORGIA – A Decatur mother has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after prosecutors said she brutally beat her 4-year-old son to death because he struggled with potty training. The case, described by a judge as one of the most disturbing crimes she had ever seen, concluded Tuesday with a permanent sentence for 43-year-old Sophia Williams.
Williams was convicted in August of malice murder, felony murder, child cruelty, and aggravated battery for the death of her son, Anthony Vice, in March 2022.
According to the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office, Williams admitted that Anthony “was not potty trained” and that she routinely punished him by striking him with her hand, a house slipper, a purse strap, and even a charging cord when he had accidents or didn’t listen.
Child Witness Said the Boy Was ‘Whooped’ for Not Using the Bathroom
A 13-year-old child living in the home told investigators that on the day Anthony died, Williams “whooped” him repeatedly because “he would not use the bathroom.” The teen reported that Anthony appeared dizzy after the beating and collapsed to the floor.
Despite the boy’s worsening condition, Williams placed him on a bed and threw water on him in an attempt to revive him. While Anthony briefly regained consciousness, he soon became unresponsive again. Throughout the night, his only movements were involuntary twitches — a sign of severe neurological injury, prosecutors said.
Williams later searched online phrases including “remedy for concussion” and “coma – symptoms and causes,” but did not seek medical attention.
Autopsy Found Fatal Head Trauma That Could Have Been Treated
At approximately 5 a.m., Williams discovered that Anthony was limp, making a faint grunting sound, and no longer breathing. Rather than immediately calling 911, she first phoned the child’s father.
When officers arrived, Williams told them she had hesitated to call for emergency help because of the bruises covering the child’s body.
An autopsy determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the head. Medical experts stated that Anthony likely could have survived if Williams had sought treatment when symptoms first appeared.
Prosecutors Describe Case as ‘Heinous’ and ‘Cruel’
During Tuesday’s sentencing hearing, Assistant District Attorney Sarah Hillren emphasized the severity and brutality of the assault. The presiding judge echoed that assessment, calling the child’s death among the most gruesome cases to appear in her courtroom.
“Because the conduct alleged was so heinous, so cruel, it is the state’s position that she should not be permitted to live out any portion of her life in the community,” Hillren said.
The judge agreed, sentencing Williams to life without parole, ensuring she will spend the remainder of her life behind bars.
ChicagoMusicGuide.com will continue following major national justice news as it develops.