The 30-year-old Georgia man convicted of murder in the death of a 9-month-old Georgia boy will serve life in prison for the crime, according to reports.
It took a jury just 40 minutes to reach a guilty verdict for 30-year-old Dehaven Johnson. He was convicted on malice murder, felony murder, first degree cruelty to children and aggravated battery.
On the evening of March 31, 2021, 9-month-old Jelani Williams was dropped off at Johnson’s home by his mother, Diasia Williams. Throughout the night, Johnson corresponded various times with Diasia telling her something seemed to be wrong with Jelani. At 9:45 p.m., he told her something seemed wrong with the baby. Just over an hour later, he told her Jelani was unresponsive and that he had called police.
Jelani was taken to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where he was pronounced dead. Johnson at first told officers the baby may have been dropped or fallen off a futon at the home. But it was later discovered through an autopsy that Jelani suffered blunt force trauma to his chest and abdomen, a left femoral fracture and cranial cerebral trauma with bleeding from the brain.
“The child was severely abused and would’ve suffered severe pain in his final moments,” said Robert Shapiro, a senior assistant district attorney with the Fulton County District Attorney’s office who prosecuted the case. “This was an especially difficult case, given the age of this victim. An innocent 9-month-old was murdered and the murder was particularly brutal.”
“Justice for Jelani Oludare Williams has officially been granted. I thank God for everyone who made this possible,” a part of a victim impact statement written by Diasia reads. “This has been a learning experience for me, as well as affected me mentally, spiritually and physically. Because of this, I am very careful with every step I take moving forward.”
Dion Peeples, senior assistant district attorney, said the sentence brings Diasia “some sort of solace and some sort of closure.”
“I think it’s an excellent step in helping her to resume her life,” Peeples said.
It’s also a good reminder, prosecutors said, to be wary of people charged with the care and protection of children.
“I have children. This is any parent’s worst nightmare,” said Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. “This young lady did nothing wrong. She’s a hardworking mother, she trusted a friend she had known for over a year at this point. He babysat before, and she wanted to unwind for a couple of hours.”
Johnson was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole plus 40 years.
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