Maryland Woman Sentenced After Niece and Nephew’s Bodies Found in Car Trunk

Nicole M. Johnson received a 50-year prison sentence after the tragic discovery of her niece and nephew's bodies in her car trunk, where they had been for months.

Baltimore, MD – A Maryland woman has been sentenced to up to 50 years in prison after authorities discovered the decomposing bodies of her niece and nephew in the trunk of her car, where they had been stored for months.

On August 13, 2024, 36-year-old Nicole M. Johnson pleaded guilty in Baltimore County Circuit Court to two counts of first-degree child abuse resulting in the death of a victim under 13, according to court records.

On Monday, February 10, Judge Nancy Purpura sentenced Johnson to life in prison, suspending all but 50 years, Fox 5 News reports.

The horrific crime came to light on July 28, 2021, during a routine traffic stop in Baltimore. Officers pulled Johnson over due to an unregistered vehicle, a fake temporary West Virginia tag, and a lack of insurance, WMAR2 News reported. While preparing to tow the vehicle, officers instructed Johnson to remove any belongings she needed from the car. Then, one officer detected a strong odor emanating from the trunk.

Authorities said Johnson retrieved a plastic tote filled with maggots and a garbage bag from the trunk. Inside, officers found the remains of 7-year-old Joshlyn Johnson. In a separate container, they discovered the body of her 5-year-old nephew, Larry O'Neil III.

The children's mother had left them in Johnson's care in 2019, Fox 5 News reports. When discovered, Joshlyn weighed only 18 pounds, and Larry weighed 21 pounds, according to an autopsy.

Charging documents obtained by PEOPLE indicate Johnson admitted to driving around with the children's bodies in her vehicle for a year. She told investigators that in May 2020, she struck Joshlyn multiple times, causing the child to fall and hit her head. Johnson claimed she placed Joshlyn's body in the trunk shortly afterward. A year later, in May 2021, Larry allegedly fell asleep in the backseat and never woke up. Johnson then placed his body in the trunk alongside his sister's.

The victims' mother, Dachelle Johnson, later shared her anguish online, explaining that she had been trying to regain custody of her children when her sister disappeared with them.

"It was supposed just to be a family helping family situation," Dachelle wrote on a since-deleted GoFundMe page. "I trusted her. I was mentally broken from losing the woman who had raised me. I'll never see my kids because of my mistake in trusting my sister. I wish I could take it back, but I can't."

Dachelle expressed regret, saying she never imagined such an outcome. "This is my blood sister; she was my family. The mistake I made in trusting will always fall on me, but I never could have imagined this. I just needed a mental break. I lost the woman who raised me. I was tired, depressed, and down. I'm sorry."