According to the court documents, the 38-year-old man was sentenced to life in prison on Friday. Prosecutors said the defendant killed his 59-year-old mother and 4-year-old niece. The girl was murdered by her uncle, she was trapped in a car seat with her 5-year-old brother in a vehicle that was set on fire by her uncle. Her brother was able to escape but she didn’t make it and passed away in the accident.
The 38-year-old man from Georgia, Derrick Lashun Hobbs, stabbed his 59-year-old mother, Lawanda Barrows, to death with scissors and set the vehicle on fire while his 4-year-old niece, Layla Hobbs, was restrained in a back seat, according to reports. The child died of smoke inhalation. Layla’s 5-year-old brother managed to escape.
This unfortunate incident occurred on June 14, 2020. Prosecutors said the 59-year-old victim was dropping her son off at his home. He then stabbed his mother to death using scissors and set fire to Barrows’ car with Layla still restrained in a back seat.
The responding officers found the vehicle fully engulfed in flames and when the blaze was extinguished, officers found the bodies of Barrows and Hobbs.
“Layla was 4 years old and tragically murdered by her uncle, she was trapped in a car seat with her 5 year old brother in a vehicle that was set on fire by her uncle. Her brother was able to escape but Layla didn’t make it and passed away in the accident.” said the GoFundMe post.
The 38-year-old defendant pleaded guilty to charges of murder and arson. He was originally charged with felony murder, malice murder, and aggravated assault.