Additional Coverage:
- Michigan mom and boyfriend beat boy, 7, to death in ‘demonic ritual’ as pelvis destroyed (themirror.com)
Detroit Couple Sentenced to Decades for Brutal Murder of 7-Year-Old Son
A Detroit mother and her boyfriend have been sentenced to decades in state prison after being convicted of abuse and murder in connection with the death of her 7-year-old son. The sentencing followed a tragic case that a judge described as one of the worst instances of abuse he had encountered in his years on the bench.
On Thursday, Wayne County Third Circuit Court Judge Paul Cusick sentenced 25-year-old Alisha Hollamon to 20 to 40 years behind bars. Her boyfriend, Avion Traylor, 23, received a harsher sentence of 28 to 60 years. Both individuals had previously pleaded guilty to homicide charges related to the brutal death of Deshawn Williams.
Deshawn Williams reportedly died in 2023 from blunt force trauma to his head and pelvis. The convicted couple was charged with felony murder, first-degree child abuse, and torture.
During court proceedings, Judge Cusick viewed a video in which Williams could be heard “crying for his life” as he was brutalized. “It was one of the worst things, probably the worst thing I’ve seen or heard,” Judge Cusick stated, reflecting on his nine years on the bench.
The case did not proceed to trial, limiting the public release of further details regarding the boy’s suffering. The prosecutor emphasized the horrific nature of the crime, stating, “There are absolutely no words to describe how brutalized Deshawn was.
Based on the facts and evidence that we have, Deshawn lived a nightmare.” During the sentencing, Krystal Hollamon, Deshawn’s aunt, delivered a tearful statement, assailing Traylor as a “sick, demonic, ritual-like” killer and highlighting ignored “glaring red flags.”
Both Alisha Hollamon and Avion Traylor opted not to address the court when given the opportunity, with their attorneys speaking on their behalf. Hollamon’s attorney claimed her client was overwhelmed by grief, fear, disbelief, and guilt, suggesting she was also a victim of Traylor’s abuse and was trying to leave him.
However, Judge Cusick dismissed the notion that the mother was a victim, determining that she had played a role in Deshawn’s abuse and had provided fabricated stories to the police. Traylor also reportedly lied to authorities and attempted to shift blame for the 7-year-old’s death onto others.
In a final attempt to circumvent a severe sentence, Traylor’s attorney motioned the court to withdraw his client’s guilty plea, arguing that law enforcement had coerced him. The motion was ultimately denied by the court.