DECATUR, GA – A Georgia woman will spend the rest of her life in prison after a jury found her guilty of killing her 4-year-old son in punishment for his trouble with toilet training, authorities said.

Sophia Williams, 43, was handed a life sentence without the possibility of parole on Tuesday following her conviction on charges that included malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, and first-degree child cruelty in connection with the 2022 death of her son, Anthony Vice.

Jurors heard that Williams repeatedly struck Anthony for not being able to use the toilet. According to court records, Williams admitted to disciplining her son with her hands and various household items, including a slipper, purse strap, and charging cord, when he soiled himself or failed to follow her instructions regarding bathroom use.

On March 20, 2022, an older child living in the home told investigators that Williams severely beat Anthony because he would not use the bathroom. After the assault, Anthony reportedly became dizzy and collapsed. Despite these distressing symptoms, Williams did not seek medical help.

Prosecutors revealed that Williams initially placed Anthony on a bed and splashed water on him when he became unresponsive. His condition briefly improved before deteriorating again throughout the night. Text messages and browser searches later showed Williams looking up terms related to concussions and comas as her son displayed alarming symptoms.

Authorities said Williams did not immediately call for emergency assistance out of concern that bruises would be discovered on Anthony’s body. Instead, she first phoned the child’s father before eventually dialing 911 when Anthony stopped breathing early the next morning.

An autopsy determined that Anthony died from blunt force trauma to the head. Medical experts testified that he likely would have survived if he had received prompt medical care, highlighting the tragic consequences of the delay.

During sentencing, prosecutors described the crime as exceptionally cruel and argued that the severity of Williams’ actions warranted her permanent removal from the community. The presiding judge called Anthony’s death one of the most horrifying cases she had ever encountered during her tenure.

Williams has been held in custody since her arrest in 2022 and will remain in prison for the remainder of her life.