DeKalb Mom Convicted Of Abusing, Killing Son Sentenced To Prison: D.A.

DECATUR, GA — A DeKalb County mother accused of abusing and killing her 4-year-old son has been sentenced to life in prison, prosecutors said Monday.

A jury on May 17 convicted Malisha Sasfras, 26, of multiple charges after her son died of blunt force trauma on Feb. 11, 2023, DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston's office said.

Paramedics were dispatched around 4:30 p.m. that day to a Candler Road apartment, where Boston said they found the child unresponsive. The young boy was taken to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, where he was pronounced dead, Boston said.

According to Boston's office, Sasfras told officers her son had gone to bed after having a headache that morning. By the afternoon, Boston said Sasfras claimed one of her other children noticed that the boy "would not wake up and was cold to the touch."

Sasfras attempted to awaken the boy by pouring water into his mouth, and subsequently, called the boy's father, Boston said, identifying the father as co-defendant Javonte Harris. Boston said Harris then convinced Sasfras to call 911.

Hospital officials located "extensive injuries on the boy's body. He had multiple scars and bruises in different stages of healing, which indicated they happened over time. Some of the injuries were patterned in the shape of a belt or cord. The boy also had a scar around his neck that appeared to be a ligature mark, as well as blisters around his wrists, as if his hands had been bound. The 4-year-old also had a severe injury to his face," Boston said.

The DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy, which Boston said showed the boy died of blunt force trauma to the head. The M.E.'s office determined the injury likely occurred six to eight hours before he died, Boston said.

Though Sasfras was the sole adult in the home at the time, Boston said Sasfras claimed to not know how the boy's face was injured.

Boston said Sasfras acknowledged sometimes whooping her children but could not explain multiple other injuries on the boy's body.

"Investigators obtained social media messages between Defendant Sasfras and Defendant Harris in which she repeatedly discussed beating the 4-year-old because he was wetting his bed or having accidents during the day," Boston's office said.

Sasfras was convicted of felony murder, three counts of first-degree cruelty to children and two counts of aggravated battery, Boston said.

DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Tangela Barrie on Friday sentenced Sasfras to life plus 20 years in prison, Boston said.

A DeKalb grand jury on May 9, 2023 indicted Harris on suspicion of second-degree murder and second-degree cruelty to children, Boston said. The case against Harris is pending.