SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — A Sandy Springs man arrested in the death of a 9-month-old baby in 2021 will now spend the rest of his life in prison.
On Monday, Fani Willis, Fulton County District Attorney, announced that 30-year-old Dehaven Johnson was found guilty on six counts including Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Cruelty to Children in the First Degree, and Aggravated Battery.
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The judge sentenced Johnson to life without the possibility of parole plus forty years.
On the night of March 31, 2021, Diasia Williams dropped her 9-month-old child, Jelani Williams, off at Johnson’s apartment on Willow Heights Drive. At the time, Johnson and Williams were friends, and according to the DA, Johnson referred to Jelani as his nephew.
The DA said less than two hours later, when Williams asked about her son, Johnson told her that the child was breathing and had a pulse but was unresponsive.
Williams asked Johnson to call 911 and EMS came and took Jelani to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where he was pronounced dead.
Detective Keith Smith of the Sandy Springs Police Department interviewed Johnson and he mentioned that the infant might have experienced choking on his bottle while he briefly stepped away.
Another detective did a more extensive follow-up interview, and Johnson mentioned that the child had a fall, and he may have either “dropped” Jelani or that Jelani might have fallen from the futon.
An autopsy revealed that the infant suffered severe injuries, including blunt force trauma to his chest and abdomen, a left femoral fracture, and cranial cerebral trauma with bleeding from the brain, which resulted in his death.
According to a Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta professional, “Jelani’s injuries were consistent with non-accidental trauma. The injuries were consistent with multiple forces of impact to baby Jelani- inconsistent with CPR, falls, or the choking described by the Defendant.”
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“My beautiful precious baby was taken away from me by a person I called a friend. This has been a huge eye-opener,” said Williams in a statement. “On March 31, 2021, Heaven gained a precious child, and I am finally left with a sort of peace that Jelani received justice on October 18, 2023. Justice for Jelani, Justice for children everywhere.”
DA Willis said she is keeping Williams and her son in her prayers.
“This young mother deserved a respite from the daily challenges of motherhood to recharge and return to a happy and healthy baby,” said District Attorney Fani T. Willis. “Her anguish sits heavy in my heart, and I am keeping her and little Jelani in my prayers.”
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