An Atlanta judge has sentenced a Georgia mother to life imprisonment without parole for the horrific murder of her two young sons in 2017. Lamora Williams, 24, was found guilty on multiple charges, including two counts of murder for the deaths of her children, one-year-old Ja’Karter Penn and two-year-old Ke’Yaunte Penn.
Williams was indicted in February 2018 on a slew of charges, including four counts of felony murder, two counts of murder, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of concealing the death of another, and one count of making a false statement. Additional charges were later added, including two counts of cruelty to children in the first degree, one count of cruelty to children in the second degree, one additional count of aggravated assault, one count of obstruction of a law enforcement officer, and one count of battery resulting in substantial physical harm.
The mother of three initially told police that she had left her children with a caregiver from noon until 11:30 p.m. on the day of the incident. Upon her return, she claimed to have found two of her children dead, with the caregiver absent. However, an arrest warrant issued by the Atlanta Police Department alleged that Williams had “knowingly and intentionally” killed her two toddlers by placing them in an oven and turning it on.
Autopsy reports revealed that the boys’ heads were found in a tipped-over oven. The medical examiner’s findings contradicted police claims that the children had been burned, stating that the thermal changes observed were due to prolonged exposure to dry heat.
Despite the evidence, Williams maintained her innocence throughout the trial. However, prosecutors were able to convince the jury of her guilt, countering her narrative with the police department’s version of events.
The boys’ father, Jameel Penn, also called 911 around the same time as Williams. He described a chilling video call he received from Williams, in which he saw his deceased sons. Penn described the scene as a “real horror movie.”
On Friday, Williams was convicted on all 14 counts against her. In addition to her life sentence, she was given an additional 35 years in prison.