Warning: This article contains disturbing details that may be upsetting to readers.The aunt of two young children found dead in the trunk her car during a traffic stop Wednesday is charged with first-degree child abuse resulting in death, police said.Police said Thursday they arrested and charged Nicole Johnson, 33, of Baltimore, in connection to the deaths of her niece and nephew, 7-year-old Joshlyn Johnson and 5-year-old Larry O'Neil.Johnson faces multiple charges, including first-degree child abuse that resulted in the death of a child under the age of 13. At the time of the autopsy, police said, the girl weighed 18 pounds and her brother weighed 21 pounds. According to doctors , it would have taken several months of malnourishment to attain these weights, police said.Johnson waived her right to a bail review and remains held on a no-bail status. A preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 27.Due to the nature of this case, it will take time to determine the exact circumstances that led to the children's deaths. County police said officers stopped a speeding car at 11:17 p.m. Wednesday on Eastern Boulevard near Wagners Lane, which led to the officers discovering the children's bodies.Police said the driver, Nicole Johnson, had no license nor insurance and was using fake temporary tags. According to police charging documents obtained by Baltimore sister station WBAL-TV, officers advised Nicole Johnson to report to District Court within five days, and that they were towing her car.According to charging documents, she then stated, "It don't matter. I won't be here in five days and y'all going to see me on the news, y'all going to see on the news making my big debut."Nicole Johnson retrieved belongings from the car. One of the retrieved items was a clear trash bag that contained maggots and the officer smelled a strong odor, police said. There was a suitcase in the bag that Nicole Johnson claimed to contain just blankets, police said.The charging documents state that Nicole Johnson removed the blanket, exposing the decomposing body of a young child.Police said in the charging documents that Nicole Johnson ran away and was apprehended a short distance away.The charging documents state that detectives searched the remaining bags and found another decomposing body of a young child.Police said in the charging documents that Nicole Johnson told detectives that both children are her sister's children and that she was watching them because her sister was unable to care for them.The children's biological mother told detectives that she moved from Ohio to Maryland with the children in July 2019 and that she couldn't care for her children and agreed to leave them with her sister, Nicole Johnson. According to the charging documents, Nicole Johnson told detectives she struck the 7-year-old girl several times for misbehaving and that the girl hit her head on the floor and died. She put the girl in a suitcase and had been carrying it around for months, according to the charging documents.The charging documents state Nicole Johnson told police she saw blood on the leg of the 5-year-old boy two months ago and he never woke up. She said she placed him in a plastic tote bag in the trunk with his sister."She admitted that she smelled the strong odor of decomposition but thought it was a rat in the engine," police said.Police said the mother tried numerous times to get in touch with Nicole Johnson but was unsuccessful. Police said the mother eventually heard from her in March and arranged to have her children returned, but Nicole Johnson never showed. Police said the mother was unable to find Nicole Johnson or her children until detectives notified her of the children's deaths.Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski tweeted a statement, saying: "The abhorrent details of this heartbreaking incident remain difficult to comprehend. On behalf of the people of Baltimore County, I share my deepest sympathies with the family, friends, and loved ones of Joshlyn Marie James Johnson and Larry Darnell O'Neal."As our community grieves the loss of these two children, I thank our officers for their swift efforts in apprehending and charging a suspect in this case."Baltimore County Police Chief Melissa Hyatt released a statement, saying: "This truly was a devastating incident — one that not only shocked our community to its core, but significantly affected our patrol officers, forensic technicians and detectives. I am grateful that the harrowing details of this case were thoroughly and quickly uncovered, resulting in an expeditious closure to this tragedy. I want to commend all of our Baltimore County Police Department members who worked tirelessly throughout this investigation to bring justice to these innocent, young victims."
Warning: This article contains disturbing details that may be upsetting to readers.
The aunt of two young children found dead in the trunk her car during a traffic stop Wednesday is charged with first-degree child abuse resulting in death, police said.
Police said Thursday they arrested and charged Nicole Johnson, 33, of Baltimore, in connection to the deaths of her niece and nephew, 7-year-old Joshlyn Johnson and 5-year-old Larry O'Neil.
Johnson faces multiple charges, including first-degree child abuse that resulted in the death of a child under the age of 13. At the time of the autopsy, police said, the girl weighed 18 pounds and her brother weighed 21 pounds. According to doctors , it would have taken several months of malnourishment to attain these weights, police said.
Johnson waived her right to a bail review and remains held on a no-bail status. A preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 27.
Due to the nature of this case, it will take time to determine the exact circumstances that led to the children's deaths.
County police said officers stopped a speeding car at 11:17 p.m. Wednesday on Eastern Boulevard near Wagners Lane, which led to the officers discovering the children's bodies.
Police said the driver, Nicole Johnson, had no license nor insurance and was using fake temporary tags. According to police charging documents obtained by Baltimore sister station WBAL-TV, officers advised Nicole Johnson to report to District Court within five days, and that they were towing her car.
According to charging documents, she then stated, "It don't matter. I won't be here in five days and y'all going to see me on the news, y'all going to see on the news making my big debut."
Nicole Johnson retrieved belongings from the car. One of the retrieved items was a clear trash bag that contained maggots and the officer smelled a strong odor, police said. There was a suitcase in the bag that Nicole Johnson claimed to contain just blankets, police said.
The charging documents state that Nicole Johnson removed the blanket, exposing the decomposing body of a young child.
Police said in the charging documents that Nicole Johnson ran away and was apprehended a short distance away.
The charging documents state that detectives searched the remaining bags and found another decomposing body of a young child.
Police said in the charging documents that Nicole Johnson told detectives that both children are her sister's children and that she was watching them because her sister was unable to care for them.
The children's biological mother told detectives that she moved from Ohio to Maryland with the children in July 2019 and that she couldn't care for her children and agreed to leave them with her sister, Nicole Johnson.
According to the charging documents, Nicole Johnson told detectives she struck the 7-year-old girl several times for misbehaving and that the girl hit her head on the floor and died. She put the girl in a suitcase and had been carrying it around for months, according to the charging documents.
The charging documents state Nicole Johnson told police she saw blood on the leg of the 5-year-old boy two months ago and he never woke up. She said she placed him in a plastic tote bag in the trunk with his sister.
"She admitted that she smelled the strong odor of decomposition but thought it was a rat in the engine," police said.
Police said the mother tried numerous times to get in touch with Nicole Johnson but was unsuccessful. Police said the mother eventually heard from her in March and arranged to have her children returned, but Nicole Johnson never showed. Police said the mother was unable to find Nicole Johnson or her children until detectives notified her of the children's deaths.
Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski tweeted a statement, saying: "The abhorrent details of this heartbreaking incident remain difficult to comprehend. On behalf of the people of Baltimore County, I share my deepest sympathies with the family, friends, and loved ones of Joshlyn Marie James Johnson and Larry Darnell O'Neal.
"As our community grieves the loss of these two children, I thank our officers for their swift efforts in apprehending and charging a suspect in this case."
Baltimore County Police Chief Melissa Hyatt released a statement, saying: "This truly was a devastating incident — one that not only shocked our community to its core, but significantly affected our patrol officers, forensic technicians and detectives. I am grateful that the harrowing details of this case were thoroughly and quickly uncovered, resulting in an expeditious closure to this tragedy. I want to commend all of our Baltimore County Police Department members who worked tirelessly throughout this investigation to bring justice to these innocent, young victims."
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