‘She Was Clearly Stomped On’: Serial Killer Crushing Women’s Skulls Terrorized Connecticut | Oxygen Official Site

On June 20, 1999, police in Hartford, Connecticut responded to a name reporting a lady had been discovered lifeless on a again porch on Backyard Avenue.

“She had severe head trauma, together with a crushed cranium and accidents round her neck and head,” Lt. Mark Pawlina, of the Hartford Police Division, informed “Mark of a Serial Killer,” airing Saturdays at 8/7c on Oxygen.

These chilling telltale marks would grow to be a well-known sight for police within the metropolis within the 12 months or in order that adopted.

The health worker decided the murder sufferer, recognized by way of fingerprints as 28-year-old Ladawn Roberts, had been lifeless for lower than 24 hours. 

Her mom informed authorities that her daughter had fallen on exhausting occasions. Roberts was additionally pregnant when she was killed. With an absence of leads, the case turned chilly.

Ten months later, the physique of 33-year-old Aida Quinones was discovered partially unclothed with severe head trauma, suggesting “she’d been the sufferer of any person’s rage,” investigators informed producers. The health worker decided her cranium, like Roberts’, had been crushed. 

Detectives discovered a doable clue near the physique. Newport cigarette butts have been collected and processed for DNA proof. The post-mortem additionally indicated there’d been a sexual assault. DNA proof was despatched to the crime lab for evaluation.

Investigators discovered from Quinones’ brother that she lived out on the road, they informed “Mark Of A Serial Killer.” 

To assist elicit leads, the State’s Legal professional workplace provided a $30,000 reward. The technique failed to provide viable data.

In June 2000, the physique of Rosalind Casey, 32, was discovered beneath a bridge in Asylum Hill. Some objects of her clothes had been pulled off. 

Like the opposite two victims, Casey’s cranium had been crushed. It appeared that the killer had stomped on her head. A serial killer appeared like a robust chance, and the group was understandably scared.

“It is a man who’s so crammed with rage,” mentioned Dr. Joni Johnston, forensic psychologist. “That is any person, I feel, based mostly on what we’re seeing, who has felt that rage for years … the mark of crushing a cranium tells me that is any person who desires to be so near his sufferer that he doesn’t put a weapon in between them. That is any person who simply enjoys the bodily act of annihilating one other human being.”

In August 2000, the physique of 32-year-old Rosali Jimenez was present in an deserted constructing on Cedar Avenue. One pant leg had been pulled down and a shoe had been eliminated. Jimenez’s head was crushed nearly past recognition. 

“She very clearly was stomped on. It was in all probability the worst case out of all of the circumstances we had seen beforehand,” Pawlina informed producers.

Blood was discovered beneath her fingernails and analyzed on the crime lab. Newport cigarette butts additionally have been discovered close to the physique. DNA proof discovered on the victims was cross-checked for commonalities — and it turned out Quinones and Jimenez had matching DNA on their our bodies.

Police compiled an inventory of recognized offenders with a historical past of sexual assaults and violence in opposition to girls. They discovered 11 homicides that had some similarities to the present circumstances, however after a deep dive none could possibly be linked to the present investigations.

In July 2001, the physique of 37-year-old Alesia Ford was discovered. Like the opposite victims, her head was crushed, a few of her clothes had been eliminated, and Newport cigarette butts have been scattered close to her physique. In a brand new twist, a bloody boot print was discovered on her torso.

Forensic evaluation decided the footwear in query to be a measurement 11 Timberland boot, mentioned Dr. Henry Lee, forensic scientist. DNA discovered on Ford’s physique matched as much as proof discovered on Quinones and Ford.

“A number of these victims have fallen on exhausting occasions,” mentioned Shannon Miller, a reporter for NBC Connecticut, including that some struggled with medication. “They’re used to type of strolling the streets, which makes them much more weak.”

In January 2002 the case took a significant flip when the DNA database turned up a match for proof discovered on the cigarette butts and victims’ our bodies. 

The person’s title: Matthew Steven Johnson, who had an in depth felony document involving violence in opposition to girls. He additionally had a fraternal twin brother, Mark, who lived in Florida. Police have been capable of rule out any hyperlink between Mark Johnson and the murders.

Investigators discovered that Matthew Steven Johnson’s scrapes with legislation enforcement started in his teenagers. In 1980, he was sentenced to 4 years behind bars for beating an Asylum Hill girl who was pregnant till she miscarried. Upon his launch, his crimes continued and he was despatched again to jail.

Police ultimately tracked Matthew Steven Johnson to a homeless shelter, the place he was arrested with out incident. On the shelter, authorities collected the suspect’s belongings, together with a pair of measurement 11 Timberland boots and Newport cigarettes.

On the station home, police hoped for a confession. However the suspect steadfastly denied any guilt. 

There was not sufficient proof to hyperlink Matthew Steven Johnson with each case, together with Ladawn Roberts, whose homicide stays unsolved. He was charged with the murders of Aida Quinones, Rosali Jimenez, and Alesia Ford. 

The case proceeded to a trial, and in 2004, he was discovered responsible of the three murders. Matthew Steven Johnson, 40, was sentenced to a few consecutive life sentences. 

For extra on this case and others prefer it, watch “Mark of a Serial Killer,” airing Saturdays at 8/7c on Oxygen or stream episodes right here.