A Georgia woman has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of her 4-year-old son, Anthony Vice.
Sophia Williams, 43, received a sentence of life without the possibility of parole, plus 10 additional years, DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston said in a news release dated Wednesday, Dec. 10.
The punishment follows Williams’ August conviction on multiple charges tied to Anthony’s death: one count of malice murder, two counts of felony murder, four counts of first-degree cruelty to children, and three counts of aggravated battery.
Anthony was found unresponsive — and “without a heartbeat” — on the living room floor of an apartment on March 6, 2022. First responders attempted lifesaving measures but reported seeing “new and old bruising over the child’s entire body,” according to the release.
He was taken to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where he was later pronounced dead.
Before her conviction, Williams told investigators that her son was not potty trained. She said when he didn’t follow directions or use the toilet, she disciplined him “by striking him with her hand, a house slipper, a purse strap, and a charging cord.”
She also told officers that Anthony had “accidentally hit his head” the week before and insisted she was not responsible for any head injuries.
A 13-year-old who was in the home with Williams and Anthony on March 5, 2022, told investigators that Williams “whooped” Anthony that day. The child said Anthony then “appeared to be dizzy and fell to the floor, unresponsive,” according to the district attorney’s release.
Authorities said Williams moved Anthony to her bed and threw water on him, briefly rousing him before he slipped back into an unresponsive state. He remained that way overnight, showing only small reflexive movements. During that time, prosecutors said Williams searched for phrases including “remedy for concussion” and “Coma – symptoms and causes,” on her phone.
When Williams woke up around 5 a.m. on March 6, Anthony was described as “completely limp” and “making a low grunting sound,” according to the release. She then realized he had stopped breathing. At 5:38 a.m., she called Anthony’s father and told him their child was not breathing.
At 6:26 a.m., Williams called 911. She later told officers she hesitated to contact authorities because of the bruises on Anthony’s body.
An autopsy determined that Anthony died from blunt force trauma to the head. Investigators later concluded he could have survived if Williams had sought medical help when she first recognized signs of a head injury.
