Georgia Mother Sentenced To Life In Prison Without Parole After Stabbing Her 5 Year Old Son To Death And Setting Apartment On Fire

A 23 year old Georgia mom will spend the rest of her life behind bars after pleading guilty to murdering her 5 year old son back in 2023.

Azaria Shante Burton,23 was sentenced to life in prison plus an additional five years by a Gwinnett County judge earlier this week after pleading guilty to multiple felony charges including first degree murder and felony arson.

The incident occurred on October 19, 2023 when the Gwinnett County Fire Department was dispatched to an apartment fire on the 4900 block of Springs Lane in Peachtree Corner.

When firefighters and officers arrived to the scene they made entry into the apartment and found 5 year old Jayveon Pruitt inside unresponsive and alone. Pruitt appeared to have multiple stab wounds to his body and was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.

It was later discovered that Pruitt was stabbed 22 times and died before the apartment was set on fire.

Burton admitted to officers that she was pregnant and facing eviction and she “could not take the stresses of life.”

She also told officers that the day before her son’s death she went to Dollar Tree and purchased aluminum containers that contained flammable gel and practiced lighting them.

The day of the fire Burton took her boyfriend to work that morning and then came home and placed Pruitt in the bed before lighting the apartment on fire.

Shortly after 9 a.m., Gwinnett County officers located Burton hiding in the woods wearing wet clothes. She was taken into custody where she still remains.