Lamora Williams, a mother from Atlanta, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole, along with an additional 35 years, for the deaths of her two toddler sons.
Williams was convicted of felony murder, cruelty to children, and providing false statements following a trial that lasted approximately two weeks.
The tragic case dates back to October 13, 2017, when Williams killed her one-year-old son, Ja’Karter Penn, and two-year-old son, Ke’Yaunte Penn, by placing them in a hot oven. She then reportedly sent a live video of the horrific scene to the boys’ father, Jameel Penn.
On the day of the incident, Williams made a frantic call to the police, claiming she had returned home from work to find her two young sons deceased.
Her initial story included accusations that the boys’ deaths were caused by an unnamed caretaker. However, investigators soon discovered this claim to be false.
“When I came in, the stove was laying on my son—on my youngest son’s head—and my other son was laid out on the floor with his brains laid out on the floor,” Williams reportedly told police. Investigators later determined that Williams had placed the boys in a heated oven after midnight on October 12, 2017. The children’s autopsy reports revealed signs of severe burns, confirming the investigators’ findings.
Meanwhile, their three-year-old sibling, Jameel Penn Jr., was found unharmed at the scene.
Jameel Penn, the children’s father, later recounted the moment Williams called him.
During the call, she showed him a live video of the lifeless bodies of their sons. “It was like a real horror movie,” Penn told WSB-TV. “It was Friday the 13th.”
Details about Williams’ mental health struggles emerged.
Her mother, Brenda, revealed that Williams had a long history of mental illness. According to Brenda, these issues were well-documented, and efforts had been made to seek intervention from the state of Georgia.
Williams’ sister, Tabitha Hollingsworth, stated that the deaths of Ja’Karter and Ke’Yaunte could have been prevented. “This was something we saw that could possibly happen,” Hollingsworth said in 2017. “She’s had issues from a baby—issues my mom tried to address with the state of Georgia.”
Throughout the trial, which concluded last week, Williams maintained her innocence and pleaded not guilty. However, the jury convicted her of all charges. The judge handed down a life sentence without the possibility of parole, followed by an additional 35 years, ensuring she would remain behind bars.
