Kevin McDarrin Johnson, Second-Degree Murder, District of Columbia 2014

Kevin McDarrin Johnson, 52, of Landover, Md., Sentenced to 24 1/2 Years in Prison for Murder of Girlfriend

WASHINGTON – In a brutal crime that shook the community, 52-year-old Kevin McDarrin Johnson, of Landover, Md., was sentenced to 24 1/2 years in prison for killing his girlfriend in Southeast Washington. Johnson had pleaded guilty in February 2015 to a charge of second-degree murder in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

According to Acting U.S. Attorney Vincent H. Cohen, Jr., Johnson’s plea agreement called for a prison sentence between 20 and 26 years. The Honorable Rhonda Reid Winston approved the plea and sentenced Johnson to the maximum 24 1/2 years. Upon completion of his prison term, Johnson will be placed on 10 years of supervised release.

The horrific crime occurred on February 20, 2014, when Johnson strangled his 48-year-old girlfriend, Detra Martin, to death in the 800 block of Southern Avenue SE. After the murder, Johnson locked the bedroom door and fled the apartment, leaving his girlfriend in her bed. He did not show up to work the next day, and law enforcement acted swiftly, arresting Johnson at a relative’s home in Maryland the day after the murder.

In announcing the sentence, Acting U.S. Attorney Cohen commended the hard work of the detectives, officers, and others who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. He also expressed appreciation to the District of Columbia Office of the Medical Examiner and acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Lashone Samuels, Ethel Noble, and Meridith McGarrity; Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark; and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard DiZinno and Natalia Medina, who prosecuted the case.

The sentence brings closure to the family and loved ones of Detra Martin, who was taken from them far too soon. The community can now rest a little easier knowing that justice has been served. As a journalist, it is our duty to shed light on the darkest corners of society and to hold those accountable for their actions.

Kevin McDarrin Johnson’s sentence serves as a reminder that violence against women will not be tolerated in our society. We must continue to work towards a world where women can live without fear of violence and abuse.

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