A Michigan mother and her boyfriend have been sentenced to spend decades in prison for the brutal beating death of her 7-year-old son in what the family described as a “sick, demonic, ritual-like crime.”
Alisha Hollamon, 25, and Avion Traylor, 23, both pleaded guilty last month to second-degree murder in connection with the 2023 death of Deshawn Williams, according to court records. Hollamon received a sentence of 20 to 40 years behind bars, while Traylor was sentenced to 28 to 60 years in prison, reported Detroit Fox affiliate WJBK.
Detroit police responded just after midnight on October 22, 2023, to a home on the 3700 block of Hurlbut Street following reports of child abuse. Upon arrival, officers found Deshawn suffering from visible scars and abrasions across his face, back, and chest. Paramedics rushed the boy to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Prosecutors revealed during the couple’s arraignment that Deshawn “lived a nightmare,” as reported by the Detroit News. The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and pelvis, with his pelvis broken in half.
“It looked as though he was dragged across a rough surface,” said Assistant Prosecutor Tina Ripley. “There are just simply no words to describe how absolutely brutalized Deshawn was. Based on the facts and evidence we have, Deshawn lived a nightmare.”
Police stated that Traylor was responsible for inflicting the abuse, while Hollamon stood by and did nothing. Originally, the couple faced charges of felony murder, first-degree child abuse, and torture. However, as part of a plea deal, the state dropped the child abuse and torture charges.
During sentencing, Deshawn’s aunt, Krystal Hollamon, who is Alisha’s sister, expressed her anger toward Traylor in the courtroom. She described her nephew’s death as a “sick, demonic, ritual-like crime” and called Traylor evil, stating that his mother “gave birth to a demon,” according to reports from WJBK.
Wayne County Third Circuit Court Judge Paul Cusick called the case one of the worst he has seen in his nearly 30 years as both a judge and criminal defense lawyer. He mentioned viewing videos where Deshawn was “crying for his life.”
This tragic case highlights the severe consequences of child abuse and the importance of protecting vulnerable children.
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