Woman Charged with 4-Year-Old Boy’s Murder Set for May Trial

By Andrew Michaels - April 3, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Juveniles | Suspects | Victims |

An eight-day jury trial was scheduled for a Baltimore woman on March 31 in connection to the murder of her partner’s 4-year-old child in 2019.

Shateka Lawson, 43, was initially set to appear in Baltimore City Circuit Court on March 28, but had her hearing rescheduled for Friday when Judge Melissa Phinn set her trial date to begin May 8 before Judge Jeannie Hong.

Two prosecutors have been assigned to the case, said an assistant state’s attorney standing in for them on Friday. The defendant is represented by defense attorney Roya Hanna.

Malachi Lawson, the biological son of 29-year-old Alicia Lawson, died nine days after his mother and Shateka allegedly gave him a scalding bath, causing severe burns on July 23, 2019, on the 5500 block of Haddon Avenue, CBS Baltimore reported. The couple did not get Malachi medical attention for fear of Child Protective Services.

The boy’s body was later found in a dumpster 10 miles from their home.

In August 2021, Alicia accepted a guilty plea of life, suspending all but 30 years and five years of probation for first-degree child abuse resulting in death.