Atlanta mother arrested for murder after 7-year-old son found dead in rolled-up car window

Written by: A. Smith

Published October 2, 2025 @ 9:05 AM ET

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. – An Atlanta mother faces murder and cruelty to children charges after police say her 7-year-old son died with his head caught in a rolled-up car window while she was unconscious from drug use in the front seat.

Kandice Grace, 32, was charged following a four-month investigation that concluded her negligence led to the death of Mazi Simmons on April 6. A Fulton County arrest warrant was issued Aug. 19.

Atlanta police responded to the 300 block of Scott Street SW that morning after a man called 911 to report a boy’s head hanging out of a car window. Officers found Grace unconscious from narcotics use in the passenger seat and Mazi unresponsive in the back seat with his head caught in the rolled-up window, according to police.

Mazi was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Two other children were also in the car at the time, investigators said.

The 911 caller told police Grace had been at his home the night before and left the children in the car around 10:30 or 11:30 p.m. He said he discovered Mazi stuck in the window when he came outside the next morning around 8:30.

During the investigation, detectives reported Grace passed out while holding her youngest child during an interview. Authorities obtained a warrant for her blood and urine, and test results from Aug. 8 showed she tested positive for opioids and THC, police said.

According to a GoFundMe established for Simmons, Mazi was Grace’s second child. Her first child, Jordice, also died, though the cause of that death was not disclosed.

This case is currently pending in court.