According to the court documents, the 27-year-old mother was sentenced Monday to serve 30 years in prison of a life sentence for the death of her 4-year-old son, whom she burned in a scalding bath and dumped with the trash two years ago. The mother pleaded guilty to one count of child abuse resulting in death.
Her name is Alicia Lawson and Judge Phinn sentenced her to life in prison with all but 30 years suspended and five years of probation. The 4-year-old boy, Malachi Lawson, had been horribly burned during a scalding bath in July 2019. Authorities charged Alicia and her spouse, Shatika, with his death.
According to the court documents, his burns were so bad that the women reported seeing his skin float in the bath waters. Alicia and Shatika were worried they would be charged and the 4-year-old would be taken away. Authorities had removed Malachi from their custody once already. The women tried to treat his burns at home.
Nine days later, they woke to find him unconscious. Alicia wrapped his body in a blanket. She put him in a trash bag and placed him in a dumpster. Alicia Lawson had no previous criminal record. She suffered neglect and trauma as a child herself, her attorney said. Shatika is scheduled for trial in February. She’s charged with eight counts, including child abuse, neglect and second-degree murder.
