Hearing Pushed For Woman Accused in 4-Year-Old Boy’s Death

By Andrew Michaels - March 29, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

A Baltimore City Circuit Court proceeding in the case of a woman accused of her 4-year-old son’s death was rescheduled for reception court later this week.

Shateka Lawson, 43, was set to appear in court on March 28; however, her case was sent to Judge Melissa Phinn’s reception court and rescheduled for March 31. She is also scheduled to appear in court on May 2, according to the Maryland Judiciary website.

The defendant and her partner, 29-year-old Alicia Lawson, are charged with first-degree child abuse resulting in death in connection to the death of Alicia’s biological son, Malachi Lawson. The boy suffered severe burns after the two women gave him a scalding bath on July 23, 2019. 

Baltimore Police later learned the child did not receive any treatment for nine days as the couple were worried about Child Protective Services. Alicia reportedly left her son’s body in a trash can 10 miles away after his death on Aug. 1, 2019, while Shateka claimed she found out about the boy’s death while talking to detectives.

Alicia later accepted a guilty plea in August 2021.