A man who killed a teenager from 13 years at a sleepover in 2018 was sentenced to life in prison by a Florida judge, a ruling that comes after the Judge Cheryl Caracuzzo’s rejection of a request for 40 years in prison.
Corey Johnson, aged 21, stabbed to death in 2018 to the adolescent Jovanni Sierra, when he still had 17, after the victim made a comment that, according to the murderer, offended his Muslim faith, official reports indicated.
“I took the life of an innocent child. I’m really, really sorry, especially when you had been so kind and generous to me,” Johnson said in court, according to the Palm Beach Post.
Johnson also stabbed Elaine Simon, owner of the house where the sleepover was held, and Dane Bancroft, Simon’s youngest son, who was Sierra’s best friend.
The defense attorneys did not dispute that Johnson had caused “unspeakable harm”; however, they indicated that Johnson became psychotic and delusional, attributing this to severe depression, prescription drugs, and the influence of ISIS videos.
The sentenced person was found guilty in November of first degree murder and two more charges of attempted murder.
Simon told police that Johnson visited his home frequently and that he and his oldest son were friends from daycare, The Associated Press reported.
According to prosecutors, the stabbings began after everyone went to sleep. Johnson hid in a closet after the attacks and police used tear gas to find him.
For his part, Dr. Michael Scott, a neuropsychologist, testified Thursday in court that after reviewing hundreds of documents and video interviews, Johnson has above-average intelligence, but a delay in his maturity, as well as autism and a serious illness.
According to the Palm Beach Post, A few years ago, Johnson’s classmates reported that he had bullied them on social media, behavior that caught the attention of the FBI when he reached high school. It is suspected that sent a threat to a Catholic secondary school in England in 2016 which caused almost 100 Parents will force their children to be taken out of class.
Jennifer Johnson, Corey’s mother, testified that prior to the murder her son had become increasingly unhappy, had dropped out of school and recently ended a relationship with a girl he had online.