In a chilling case that has shocked the community, a Decatur woman has been sentenced to spend decades behind bars for the abuse and murder of her young son. On May 17, 26-year-old Malisha Sasfras was found guilty by a jury on charges including Felony Murder, three counts of Cruelty to Children in the First Degree, and two counts of Aggravated Battery. The verdict stems from the tragic death of her four-year-old son on February 11, 2023.
DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Tangela Barrie, who oversaw the emotionally charged trial, sentenced Sasfras to life imprisonment plus an additional 20 years. The severity of the sentence reflects the horrific nature of the crimes committed.
What Happened?:
The grim sequence of events began on the afternoon of February 11, 2023. At around 4:30 p.m., paramedics were called to an apartment on Candler Road in unincorporated Decatur. They found a four-year-old boy unresponsive. Despite rushed efforts, he was pronounced dead upon arrival at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
According to Sasfras, her son had complained of a headache that morning before returning to bed. It was only later in the day, she claimed, that one of her other children discovered him unresponsive and cold to the touch. In a desperate and misguided attempt to revive him, Sasfras poured water into his mouth before calling the boy’s father, Javonte Harris, who then urged her to contact emergency services.
Uncovering the Horrific Abuse
The medical examination at CHOA revealed a heartbreaking truth. The young boy’s body bore the evidence of prolonged and severe abuse. Multiple scars and bruises in various stages of healing were found, suggesting ongoing maltreatment. Some injuries bore the distinct patterns of a belt or cord, and a ligature mark encircled his neck. Blisters around his wrists indicated he had been bound. Most disturbingly, his face showed signs of a severe injury.
The DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the boy died from blunt force trauma to the head, inflicted six to eight hours before his death. Sasfras was the only adult present during this critical period.
Despite these findings, Sasfras claimed ignorance about how her son sustained his facial injuries. She admitted to “whooping” her children but provided no explanation for the numerous other injuries. Further incriminating evidence came from social media messages exchanged between Sasfras and Harris, in which she detailed beating the boy for bedwetting and other accidents.
While Sasfras’s fate is sealed, the case against Javonte Harris continues. He faces charges of Murder in the Second Degree and Cruelty to Children in the Second Degree, following a May 9, 2023 indictment by a DeKalb County Grand Jury. His trial is pending.
