Ga. mother who 'could not take the stresses of life' pleads guilty in fatal stabbing of son

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. (TCN) -- A 23-year-old mother will spend the rest of her life behind bars for fatally stabbing her young son in 2023 and setting their home on fire.

The Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office announced July 15 that Azaria Burton pleaded guilty to malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault family violence, possession of a knife during the commission of a felony, first-degree arson, criminal attempt to commit a felony, and misdemeanor tampering with evidence in connection with the death of her son, 5-year-old Jayveon Pruitt. Burton was subsequently sentenced to life in prison with an additional five years.

On the morning of Oct. 19, 2023, Gwinnett County Police and Fire responded to an apartment fire, where they found Pruitt with 22 stab wounds to his chest. The boy was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. Police said he was the only occupant in the apartment at the time.

According to prosecutors, investigators determined Pruitt died before the fire. Shortly after finding the boy, police located Burton behind the apartment building with wet clothes and wearing one sock.

Burton reportedly told police she was pregnant, faced eviction, and she "could not take the stresses of life."

Burton allegedly began plotting her crimes the previous day and went to a local Dollar Tree store to purchase ethanol and flammable gel. Burton reportedly "practiced setting the gel on fire in her trash can" before the incident.

According to the district attorney’s office, on the morning of the fire, Burton dropped her boyfriend off at work and then texted him that she put money and some of his items in their car. She allegedly told him, "I’m probably not coming back."

Burton reportedly placed Pruitt onto her bed and spread flammable gel throughout the home before stabbing the boy and starting the fire.

Prosecutors noted that during her plea hearing, "Burton remained silent and showed no emotions or signs of remorse."

In a statement, Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said, "This is not motherhood as it should be. Mothers generally protect their young. There is something extremely wrong that must have happened to cause this tragedy."