Brooklyn, New York — A Manhattan man who prosecutors say killed his former girlfriend, dismembered her body and then continued living inside her Brooklyn apartment for nearly a month has been sentenced to 26 years to life in prison.
Justin Williams, 27, learned his fate Wednesday in Brooklyn Supreme Court after being convicted in the brutal 2022 killing of 22-year-old D’Asia Johnson.
Ex-Girlfriend Was Killed Inside Brooklyn Apartment
According to prosecutors, Williams killed Johnson inside her East New York apartment on Aug. 21, 2022, after the pair had previously been involved in a romantic relationship.
Prosecutors said Williams stabbed Johnson multiple times in her torso and back before using a meat cleaver to dismember her body.
He then allegedly placed her remains inside garbage bags throughout the apartment. The horrifying circumstances surrounding Johnson’s death were compounded by what prosecutors said Williams did afterward.
Williams Allegedly Lived With Her Remains for Weeks
Rather than leaving the apartment, prosecutors said Williams continued living there while Johnson’s remains decomposed nearby.
Investigators said he attempted to mask the smell using towels and cleaning products and kept the apartment’s windows open. Meanwhile, Johnson’s family was desperately trying to determine what had happened to her.
Authorities eventually discovered her remains after building personnel became suspicious and conducted a wellness check, leading them to contact police.
Prosecutors Say He Used Johnson’s Identity
Investigators said Williams went beyond concealing Johnson’s body.
According to prosecutors, he allegedly impersonated Johnson when contacting her workplace, allowing her to continue receiving paychecks even after her death.
Prosecutors said Williams used the money to bring prostitutes to the apartment.
He also allegedly used Johnson’s public benefits to purchase food and even brought his adolescent son to the apartment while her remains were still inside.
The allegations painted a picture of an extended effort to hide Johnson’s death while continuing to benefit financially from her identity.
Johnson Was Protected by an Order of Protection
Prosecutors also said the relationship between Williams and Johnson had been marked by repeated abuse.
At the time of the killing, Johnson was reportedly protected by an order of protection that required Williams to stay away from her. Despite that restriction, prosecutors said he was inside her apartment when she was killed.
The case ultimately went before a jury, which convicted Williams following a June trial.
Multiple Convictions Added to Murder Charge
Williams was convicted of second-degree murder, along with several other offenses.
Those convictions included concealment of a human corpse, fourth-degree grand larceny, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, second-degree criminal impersonation, and fifth-degree welfare fraud.
The combination of charges reflected not only the killing itself but also the alleged efforts to conceal Johnson’s death and exploit her identity and benefits afterward.
Brooklyn DA Calls Case ‘Horrific’
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez condemned the killing and the conduct that followed Johnson’s death.
Gonzalez said Johnson experienced horrific violence and that Williams’ actions afterward showed an extreme disregard for her life, dignity and the family members who were desperately searching for her.
With Wednesday’s sentencing, Williams will now spend at least 26 years in prison before becoming eligible for release consideration, with the sentence carrying a maximum of life imprisonment.
For Johnson’s family, the sentence closes another chapter in a case that began with her disappearance and ended with the discovery of her remains inside the place where she had lived.
What are your thoughts on the sentence in this case? Do you believe it provides enough justice for D’Asia Johnson and her family? Share your opinion in the comments below.
