Statesboro mom walks away with probation after toddler’s 2020 death, murder charges dropped

STATESBORO, Ga. (WTOC) - A Statesboro mother received five years’ probation after pleading guilty to cruelty to children in the second degree in connection with her 2-year-old child’s death in 2020.

Dorothy Deshay Johnson took a plea deal that dropped multiple charges, including two counts of murder, aggravated assault, family violence, and two counts of cruelty to children in the first degree. All those charges were nolle prosequi, or dropped essentially.

Judge Matthew Hube approved the deal. Johnson spent nearly two years in jail, from June 4, 2024, through May 11, 2026.

Background of the case

On June 14, 2020, Statesboro Police Department officers responded to a residence on Best Street for a 2-year-old child not breathing. The child was taken to a hospital in Augusta but died shortly after.

The child was identified through an obituary as Kaleb DaShawn Johnson, who was just 15 days shy of his 2nd birthday when he died.

According to his obituary, he has 3 other brothers and 2 sisters.

“Kaleb was a loving, quiet child. He was very fond of the Paw Patrol. He even had a Paw Patrol theme bed, where he loved to drink his milk and hide sweet treats. He got a kick out of taking his little sister’s bottle and drinking her milk just to hear her cry. Kaleb was a happy baby and always had a smile on his face, no matter  what. He loved to be with his family. He will be greatly missed.”

Obituary for Kaleb

Detectives conducted multiple interviews and obtained documentation on the child’s medical and family history. Medical examiners worked to determine the cause and manner of death.

The Bulloch County Grand Jury returned a True Bill of Indictment against Johnson on June 3, 2024. She was arrested the next day. She originally ped not guilty.

That indictment reveals Johnson was accused of causing and inflicting a traumatic brain injury to Kaleb on June 14th, 2020, in a way unknown to grand jurors.

The indictment also says Johnson caused Kaleb cruel and excessive physical and mental pain by inflicting this traumatic brain injury.

This mother was facing 2 counts of cruelty to children, according to the indictment, because Kaleb’s other brother, and sister “were caused cruel and excessive mental pain by murdering their brother in their presence”.

Probation conditions

Johnson cannot use alcohol or drugs or associate with people who do. She cannot violate any laws or possess firearms or ammunition. She owes the court $105.

The Division of Family and Children Services is in charge of the parenting plan and access to her other children.

Johnson’s attorney requested an Alford plea, which would have allowed her to accept punishment while maintaining innocence. The judge denied the Alford plea and denied first offender status.

If convicted on all original charges at trial, Johnson could have faced a maximum of 80 years plus two life sentences with or without parole.