BALTIMORE, MD. – An autistic boy who was reported missing last Friday was found deceased in a dumpster, authorities said.
The child, 4-year-old Malachi Lawson, was reported missing at around 3:20 p.m. His mother, Alicia Lawson said that she saw him last on his grandmother’s porch before vanishing. Baltimore Police officers immediately began searching the neighborhood for Malachi while continuing to collect information from his mother. During the search, police officials reached out to the public to locate the small autistic child.
Shortly after, Alicia Lawson admitted that Malachi was deceased and had been discarded in dumpsters around 10 miles from their home. She said that Malachi had died on Thursday, August 1, 2019. Alicia told detectives that on July 23, 2019, Malachi had soiled himself and her and her girlfriend, Shatika Lawson, placed him in a tub of very hot water.
They washed his clothes in a nearby sink, according to court documents and when they looked back, the child had sustained major burns and portions of his skin were floating in the tub. The women did not seek medical care in fear that they would get into trouble for his injuries. In addition, the women, according to court documents, had a history with child protective services and feared the child would be removed from their custody.
The two tended to the child’s burns from July 23rd until August 1st when the child was found unresponsive. The child’s body was lying in some unidentified liquid when she found him. Rather than calling for help, Alicia wrapped him in a blanket. Alicia called Lyft and carried Malachi’s wrapped body into the vehicle. She had the driver drop her and Malachi’s wrapped body around 10 miles from their home where she placed his body inside a dumpster. It is unclear how Alicia got back home after dumping Malachi’s body in the dumpster.
Alicia and Shatika Lawson were arrested for and charged with child neglect resulting in the death of a minor. An autopsy will be performed on Malachi, which will determine if the two will face any additional charges.
