Initially, Nicole Johnson claimed to the police that the bags in the trunk of her car were filled with soiled garments.
However, upon opening a plastic-wrapped suitcase as requested by Baltimore County Police officers during a speeding stop in July 2021, an officer reacted strongly and Johnson attempted to flee.
“It’s a baby,” the officer exclaimed to another, their breath quickening for a moment. There appears to be a deceased infant in that bag.
Earlier this week, after a lengthy investigation, Johnson finally admitted her guilt in the tragic deaths of her niece and nephew. The 36-year-old woman pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree child abuse resulting in death.
At the plea hearing in Baltimore County Circuit Court, prosecutors presented approximately 20 minutes of body-camera footage from the Eastern Boulevard traffic stop. During this stop, officers tragically discovered the bodies of Joshlyn Johnson, 7, and her 5-year-old brother, Larry O’Neill III.
Joshlyn’s body weighed 17 pounds, while Larry’s weighed 21. The medical examiner discovered bruising and other injuries on both children, concluding that their deaths were the result of homicide. However, drugs or carbon monoxide were ruled out as the cause.
Baltimore County Deputy State’s Attorney Lisa Fox Dever has proposed a sentence of life imprisonment, with all but 50 years suspended. This would mean 25 years for each child, followed by five years of supervised probation for Johnson.
The sentencing guidelines recommend a range of 50 to 75 years, according to Dever. Additionally, the maximum penalty for each count is life imprisonment.
Natalie Finegar, Johnson’s attorney, informed her client during the court proceedings that she had the opportunity to present a case for a reduced sentence compared to what the state was seeking. The sentencing date has been scheduled for January 28th. Finegar chose not to provide a comment on Tuesday.
In November 2019, Dachelle Johnson entrusted her children to her sister Nicole, believing they would be in good hands, as stated in the charges and supporting facts presented in court on Tuesday.
According to Dever, whenever Dachelle requested to see or speak with her children, Nicole would consistently come up with excuses for why she couldn’t fulfill her request. In March 2021, Nicole failed to appear for the planned meeting with Dachelle, leaving Dachelle unable to locate her or the children.
Nicole Johnson informed a homicide detective that during her stay at the Regal Inn in Rosedale in May 2020, she expressed her frustration towards Joshlyn for taking food from the refrigerator that was not hers, as stated by Dever. Johnson claimed to have physically assaulted Joshlyn, resulting in her hitting her head on the floor and losing consciousness.
In 2021, just a couple of months prior to the July 28 traffic stop, Johnson grew upset with Larry for playing with an item that wasn’t his and reacted in an exaggerated manner, according to Dever. According to charging documents, Johnson informed the police that Larry had laid down to rest in her car and unfortunately did not wake up. Additionally, she informed detectives that she recalled observing blood on Larry’s leg.
According to charging documents, she did not contact emergency medical services or the police. Instead, she placed his body in a plastic tote that she kept in the trunk alongside Joshlyn’s body. Johnson failed to report Joshlyn’s death to the authorities.