36-year-old Maryland Aunt Drives Around for Months with Decomposing Bodies of 7 and 5-Year-Olds in Trunk

Lifestyle
Paul Johns
February 12, 2025
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8 minutes read

(Image: Baltimore Police Department)

A Maryland woman has been sentenced to life in prison after police discovered the decomposed bodies of her 7-year-old niece and 5-year-old nephew in the trunk of her maggot-infested car. Nicole M. Johnson, 36, was convicted of murdering the two children, whose malnourished remains were found during a routine traffic stop in July 2021.

The grim discovery was made after officers pulled over Johnson’s unlicensed vehicle near Eastern Boulevard in Baltimore County. Police reported detecting “the unmistakable odor of decomposition” and noticing maggots in a clear trash bag inside the trunk. When officers instructed Johnson to open a plastic tote and suitcase, they found the remains of Joshlyn Johnson and Larry O’Neal.

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The children, who had been in Johnson’s care, weighed just 18 and 21 pounds, respectively. During the traffic stop, Johnson made a chilling remark to officers, stating, “It doesn’t matter, I won’t be here in five days. Y’all going to see me on the news, y’all going to see on the news making my big debut.” Her words foreshadowed the horrific details that would soon emerge, according to Law and Crime.

Johnson confessed that her niece, Joshlyn, had died in May 2020 after being struck repeatedly for stealing. The child collapsed, hit her head, and never regained consciousness. Johnson admitted to placing Joshlyn’s body in a suitcase and storing it in her trunk for “several months.” She also claimed her nephew, Larry, had died in his sleep two months before her arrest.

The children’s biological mother, who was unable to care for them, had entrusted them to Johnson. A plan to return the children to their mother was never fulfilled, and she only learned of their deaths when the police informed her. On Monday, a Baltimore County judge sentenced Johnson to life in prison with all but 50 years suspended.

She was convicted on two counts of child abuse resulting in death. If released, Johnson will serve five years of supervised probation and undergo mental health treatment. The court also barred her from contacting anyone under 18.

The case has shocked the community, highlighting the tragic consequences of neglect and abuse. Johnson’s vehicle found uninsured and unregistered with a counterfeit license plate, was towed after the discovery. The horrifying incident serves as a grim reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by children in unstable environments.