Detroit woman sentenced to decades for murder of 3-year-old boy found in freezer

DETROIT – A 33-year-old woman from Detroit was sentenced to decades in prison for her role in the death of her 3-year-old son.

Chayce’s body was found in a basement freezer in June 2022 by police who were called to a home on Detroit’s west side for a welfare check. Police said there were five other children at the home at the time, which had been visited by Child Protected Services before.

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A Wayne County medical examiner said the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the 3-year-old’s head. It was ruled a homicide.

His mother, Azuradee France, was taken into custody that day and was charged with felony murder, first-degree child abuse, torture and concealing the death of an individual. She was given no bond.

France reportedly had a prior child abuse conviction and had her children returned to her after serving two years of probation.

According to authorities, France pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on July 12, 2024 and the prior charges were dismissed. She was sentenced Monday, July 29, to 35-60 years behind bars.

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