DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office arrests father in beating death of 4-year-old son, mother arrested and in custody

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office has arrested the father in the beating death of his 4-year-old son.

Decatur resident Javonte Harris, 27, was taken into custody without incident in Atlanta, on Feb.16 by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Fugitive Unit on charges of Malice Murder and Cruelty to Children in the First Degree.

The 4-year-old boy was the child of Harris and Malisha Sasfras, 25, of Decatur, who was arrested on Feb. 11 and remains in custody.

According to warrants,. Harris caused “excessive pain and injuries by punching the child in the face and causing injuries” between Feb. 7 and Feb. 11, 2023, when the child became unresponsive and was pronounced dead after being hospitalized.

Harris was apprehended at an Oakland Drive location in Atlanta and transported to the DeKalb County Jail, where he is being held without bond.