Topline: Sophia Williams was sentenced to life for killing her 4‑year‑old son over potty training.
Published: December 17, 2025 8:00 am ET
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Sophia Williams, mugshot via DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department
DECATUR, GA — A Georgia mother was sentenced Dec. 10 to life in prison for killing her 4‑year‑old son, who died from blunt force trauma after being beaten for not being potty trained.
Sophia Williams, 43, was sentenced in DeKalb County after being convicted on multiple felony charges relating to the death of her son, Anthony Vice.
DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced in a press release that Williams received a sentence of life without the possibility of parole, in addition to 10 years. The sentence was delivered four months after a jury found Williams guilty in August.
Williams was convicted on 10 counts stemming from the child’s murder. These counts included Malice Murder, two counts of Felony Murder, four counts of Cruelty to Children in the First Degree, and three counts of Aggravated Battery, the district attorney reported.
The case centered on the death of Anthony Vice, 4, who was found without a heartbeat on the floor of a DeKalb County apartment on March 6, 2022. First responders who administered aid noticed old and new bruising over the child’s entire body, according to the district attorney’s office.
Anthony was transported to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy later determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, officials said as per People Magazine .
Medical examiners later determined that the child’s injuries were treatable. He could have survived if Williams had sought medical care when she first noticed signs of a head injury, as reported by the district attorney’s office.
Prior to her conviction, Williams told officers she disciplined her son by striking him with her hand, a house slipper, a purse strap, and a charging cord. She stated that the discipline was a response to his lack of potty training and refusal to use the toilet.
Williams initially claimed that the boy had accidentally hit his head the week before his death and that she was not responsible for the fatal head injuries. However, evidence presented at trial contradicted this claim.
A 13-year-old child who was in the home with Williams and Anthony testified to authorities about the events of March 5, 2022. The child told police that Williams repeatedly struck Anthony, a process the witness described as having “whooped” him, according to the news release.
The witness stated Anthony appeared dizzy and fell to the floor, becoming unresponsive shortly after the beating. Williams then moved the boy to her bed and threw water on him, which temporarily woke him for a short moment.
The district attorney’s office noted that Anthony remained unresponsive throughout the night, only making small, involuntary movements. Instead of calling for emergency aid, Williams used her phone to search phrases such as “remedy for concussion” and “Coma – symptoms and causes.”
Williams woke around 5 a.m. on March 6, 2022, and found Anthony completely limp and making a low grunting sound. She then felt him stop breathing, according to the district attorney’s release.
She first called the child’s father at 5:38 a.m. to report that their son was not breathing. Williams did not contact 911 until 6:26 a.m., almost an hour later.
She later admitted to officers that she hesitated to call authorities because of the visible bruises covering the child’s body. The medical evidence and the mother’s delay in seeking care were key factors in the prosecution’s argument.
Williams’ conviction for Malice Murder means the jury concluded she acted with intent to kill or with depraved indifference to human life. The 10 counts upon which she was convicted reflected the repeated abuse the child suffered, according to court records.
District Attorney Boston stated the sentencing sends a clear message that violence against children will be met with the full force of the law. The life without parole term ensures Williams will not be released.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Georgia Mother Sentenced to Life for Killing Son Over Potty Training
Sophia Williams was sentenced to life for killing her 4‑year‑old son over potty training.
By Kate Byrd
Published: December 17, 2025 8:00 am ET
Sophia Williams, mugshot via DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department
DECATUR, GA — A Georgia mother was sentenced Dec. 10 to life in prison for killing her 4‑year‑old son, who died from blunt force trauma after being beaten for not being potty trained.
Sophia Williams, 43, was sentenced in DeKalb County after being convicted on multiple felony charges relating to the death of her son, Anthony Vice.
DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced in a press release that Williams received a sentence of life without the possibility of parole, in addition to 10 years. The sentence was delivered four months after a jury found Williams guilty in August.
Williams was convicted on 10 counts stemming from the child’s murder. These counts included Malice Murder, two counts of Felony Murder, four counts of Cruelty to Children in the First Degree, and three counts of Aggravated Battery, the district attorney reported.
The case centered on the death of Anthony Vice, 4, who was found without a heartbeat on the floor of a DeKalb County apartment on March 6, 2022. First responders who administered aid noticed old and new bruising over the child’s entire body, according to the district attorney’s office.
Anthony was transported to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy later determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, officials said as per People Magazine .
Medical examiners later determined that the child’s injuries were treatable. He could have survived if Williams had sought medical care when she first noticed signs of a head injury, as reported by the district attorney’s office.
Prior to her conviction, Williams told officers she disciplined her son by striking him with her hand, a house slipper, a purse strap, and a charging cord. She stated that the discipline was a response to his lack of potty training and refusal to use the toilet.
Williams initially claimed that the boy had accidentally hit his head the week before his death and that she was not responsible for the fatal head injuries. However, evidence presented at trial contradicted this claim.
A 13-year-old child who was in the home with Williams and Anthony testified to authorities about the events of March 5, 2022. The child told police that Williams repeatedly struck Anthony, a process the witness described as having “whooped” him, according to the news release.
The witness stated Anthony appeared dizzy and fell to the floor, becoming unresponsive shortly after the beating. Williams then moved the boy to her bed and threw water on him, which temporarily woke him for a short moment.
The district attorney’s office noted that Anthony remained unresponsive throughout the night, only making small, involuntary movements. Instead of calling for emergency aid, Williams used her phone to search phrases such as “remedy for concussion” and “Coma – symptoms and causes.”
Williams woke around 5 a.m. on March 6, 2022, and found Anthony completely limp and making a low grunting sound. She then felt him stop breathing, according to the district attorney’s release.
She first called the child’s father at 5:38 a.m. to report that their son was not breathing. Williams did not contact 911 until 6:26 a.m., almost an hour later.
She later admitted to officers that she hesitated to call authorities because of the visible bruises covering the child’s body. The medical evidence and the mother’s delay in seeking care were key factors in the prosecution’s argument.
Williams’ conviction for Malice Murder means the jury concluded she acted with intent to kill or with depraved indifference to human life. The 10 counts upon which she was convicted reflected the repeated abuse the child suffered, according to court records.
District Attorney Boston stated the sentencing sends a clear message that violence against children will be met with the full force of the law. The life without parole term ensures Williams will not be released.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Latest Articles
Georgia Mother Sentenced to Life for Killing Son Over Potty Training
Sophia Williams was sentenced to life for killing her 4‑year‑old son over potty training.
By Kate Byrd
Published: December 17, 2025 8:00 am ET
Sophia Williams, mugshot via DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department
DECATUR, GA — A Georgia mother was sentenced Dec. 10 to life in prison for killing her 4‑year‑old son, who died from blunt force trauma after being beaten for not being potty trained.
Sophia Williams, 43, was sentenced in DeKalb County after being convicted on multiple felony charges relating to the death of her son, Anthony Vice.
DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced in a press release that Williams received a sentence of life without the possibility of parole, in addition to 10 years. The sentence was delivered four months after a jury found Williams guilty in August.
Williams was convicted on 10 counts stemming from the child’s murder. These counts included Malice Murder, two counts of Felony Murder, four counts of Cruelty to Children in the First Degree, and three counts of Aggravated Battery, the district attorney reported.
The case centered on the death of Anthony Vice, 4, who was found without a heartbeat on the floor of a DeKalb County apartment on March 6, 2022. First responders who administered aid noticed old and new bruising over the child’s entire body, according to the district attorney’s office.
Anthony was transported to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy later determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, officials said as per People Magazine .
Medical examiners later determined that the child’s injuries were treatable. He could have survived if Williams had sought medical care when she first noticed signs of a head injury, as reported by the district attorney’s office.
Prior to her conviction, Williams told officers she disciplined her son by striking him with her hand, a house slipper, a purse strap, and a charging cord. She stated that the discipline was a response to his lack of potty training and refusal to use the toilet.
Williams initially claimed that the boy had accidentally hit his head the week before his death and that she was not responsible for the fatal head injuries. However, evidence presented at trial contradicted this claim.
A 13-year-old child who was in the home with Williams and Anthony testified to authorities about the events of March 5, 2022. The child told police that Williams repeatedly struck Anthony, a process the witness described as having “whooped” him, according to the news release.
The witness stated Anthony appeared dizzy and fell to the floor, becoming unresponsive shortly after the beating. Williams then moved the boy to her bed and threw water on him, which temporarily woke him for a short moment.
The district attorney’s office noted that Anthony remained unresponsive throughout the night, only making small, involuntary movements. Instead of calling for emergency aid, Williams used her phone to search phrases such as “remedy for concussion” and “Coma – symptoms and causes.”
Williams woke around 5 a.m. on March 6, 2022, and found Anthony completely limp and making a low grunting sound. She then felt him stop breathing, according to the district attorney’s release.
She first called the child’s father at 5:38 a.m. to report that their son was not breathing. Williams did not contact 911 until 6:26 a.m., almost an hour later.
She later admitted to officers that she hesitated to call authorities because of the visible bruises covering the child’s body. The medical evidence and the mother’s delay in seeking care were key factors in the prosecution’s argument.
Williams’ conviction for Malice Murder means the jury concluded she acted with intent to kill or with depraved indifference to human life. The 10 counts upon which she was convicted reflected the repeated abuse the child suffered, according to court records.
District Attorney Boston stated the sentencing sends a clear message that violence against children will be met with the full force of the law. The life without parole term ensures Williams will not be released.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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