Investigators said the child died after ingesting lethal amounts of over-the-counter medication while in the babysitter’s care.
CANTON, Ga. — A Georgia woman has been sentenced to decades in prison after pleading guilty in the death of a missing 2-year-old girl whose remains were found hidden inside a plastic storage bin in the woman’s apartment in late 2022.
Phillissa Diallo, 44, pleaded guilty this week to second-degree murder, second-degree cruelty to children and concealing the death of another person in the death of Alyssa Rose Davis. Prosecutors said the case drew widespread attention after the toddler disappeared while under Diallo’s supervision and authorities later uncovered evidence that the child’s body had been concealed for days. The sentence closes one of Cherokee County’s most disturbing child death investigations in recent years.
The investigation began on Dec. 14, 2022, when Diallo entered the Canton Police Department and reported that a child was dead inside her apartment. Officers responded to the residence and discovered Alyssa’s remains inside a plastic storage container located in a closet, according to investigators. Prosecutors said the toddler had been left in Diallo’s care for more than two weeks before her death. Authorities later determined that the child had been given lethal amounts of acetaminophen and diphenhydramine, medications commonly sold as Tylenol and Benadryl. During court proceedings, prosecutors said Diallo admitted Alyssa was still alive for a period after ingesting the drugs and acknowledged that medical intervention might have saved the child. Chief Superior Court Judge David L. Cannon Jr. sentenced Diallo to 37 years, including 21 years in prison followed by probation.
Investigators said evidence collected from the apartment suggested attempts had been made to clean the scene before police were contacted. Surveillance footage reviewed by detectives allegedly showed Diallo purchasing bleach and other cleaning supplies after the child’s death. Prosecutors also said the toddler’s body showed signs of postmortem mutilation. Court records described the condition of the remains as severe enough to complicate portions of the autopsy examination. Authorities said Alyssa’s mother did not know her daughter had died until she was contacted by investigators. During an emotional courtroom statement, the mother described months of grief and unanswered questions after losing her child. Prosecutors said forensic testing, apartment surveillance records and medical evidence played major roles in securing the guilty plea. Defense attorneys argued that Diallo struggled with significant mental health problems, though state experts testified she was legally competent and understood her actions during the period surrounding the child’s death.
The case unfolded amid broader concerns nationwide over child safety and informal childcare arrangements. Prosecutors said Alyssa had been staying with Diallo while family members believed she was being properly supervised. Investigators later reconstructed the timeline through phone records, security footage and interviews with witnesses connected to the apartment complex. The death shocked residents in Cherokee County, where neighbors told investigators they had not realized a child had died inside the apartment. Authorities said no prior criminal convictions involving violence against children were publicly identified for Diallo before the case. Still, investigators described the circumstances surrounding Alyssa’s death and concealment as unusually troubling because of the length of time that passed before emergency responders were notified. Child welfare advocates following the case said delayed reporting in abuse and neglect investigations can make evidence recovery and medical determinations significantly more difficult.
Under Georgia law, the plea agreement spared Diallo from facing a malice murder conviction that could have carried a sentence of life without parole. Prosecutors said the evidence supported charges connected to reckless conduct and concealment rather than intentional premeditated homicide. During the plea hearing, Diallo formally admitted guilt to the reduced charges. Judge Cannon ordered the sentence to include decades of probation following imprisonment and additional conditions tied to mental health treatment and supervision. Authorities said no further arrests are expected in connection with Alyssa’s death. Investigators have closed the criminal portion of the case, though officials indicated that records tied to child welfare agencies and medical reviews may remain subject to administrative review. Prosecutors also said the case highlighted the importance of rapid reporting when children show signs of medical distress or unexplained injury.
People attending the sentencing hearing described a tense and emotional courtroom as family members listened to prosecutors summarize the investigation. Several relatives cried as photographs of Alyssa were discussed during victim impact statements. Prosecutors said the child was remembered by relatives as energetic and affectionate before her death. One investigator told the court the case remained difficult for responding officers because of the condition in which the remains were discovered. Outside the courthouse, residents expressed relief that the criminal proceedings had ended but said the details remained deeply disturbing. Defense attorneys asked the court to consider Diallo’s history of mental illness and isolation, arguing she had experienced periods of psychological instability before the incident. Prosecutors countered that the evidence showed repeated efforts to avoid detection after the child died. The judge ultimately said the sentence reflected both accountability and the seriousness of concealing the death of a young child.
The case now moves into the post-sentencing phase as Diallo begins serving her prison term in Georgia’s correctional system. Court officials said no additional hearings are currently scheduled, though appeals or future motions remain possible under state law. Authorities said Alyssa’s family continues to receive victim support services as the community processes the conclusion of the case.
Author note: Last updated May 22, 2026.