CLEVELAND (AP) — A Cleveland man could face the death penalty following his conviction in the murders of his ex-girlfriend, her 2-year-old daughter, the couple’s 6-year-old son and a neighbor three years ago.
Cleveland.com reported that jurors in Cuyahoga County deliberated for more than nine hours before convicting 29-year-old Armond Johnson Sr. of aggravated murder and eight other charges Friday in the July 2019 slayings.
Authorities said he shot and killed 25-year-old Takeyra Collins, then set a fire in her house that killed his 6-year-old son Armond Jr. and the boy’s 2-year-old sister, Aubree Stone. Police said he then shot the woman’s neighbor, 35-year-old David Cousin Jr., whose body was found in a vacant lot next to the address.
Prosecutors said Collins was shot 10 times in her bedroom, while the children were found lying on the floor next to each other in the boy’s bedroom after 2-year-old Aubree woke up and went into her brother’s bedroom, where they both died of smoke inhalation prosecutors said.
Authorities said Johnson and Collins had lived together and planned to get married after his March 2019 release from prison, but a month before the slayings she called off the wedding and kicked him out of the house, accusing him of abusing her and threatening her with a gun.
Defense attorneys questioned the reliability of DNA and cellphone evidence presented and challenged other parts of the investigation. Jurors acquitted Johnson of one aggravated burglary count and the aggravated murder count associated with that charge.
“We’re just glad that justice was served for Takeyra and for the kids,” Collins’ aunt, Tiffany Collins, said after the conviction.
Johnson is eligible for the death penalty since jurors found that more than two people were killed, the felonies of kidnapping and aggravated arson were also committed, victims under the age of 13 were killed, Johnson was on post-release control from prison at the time and a witness was killed.
In the penalty phase of the trial slated to begin Sept. 28, defense attorneys will be able to present evidence such as aspects of the defendant’s upbringing and mental health to try to persuade jurors not to recommend capital punishment. The judge cannot impose the death penalty if the jury rejects it and instead recommends a life sentence.
