A New York man was sentenced to 26 years to life in prison for murdering and dismembering his girlfriend — then living in her apartment for nearly a month while her remains decomposed in the bathroom, according to prosecutors.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said 27-year-old Justin Williams learned his fate on Wednesday after a jury convicted him of second-degree murder, concealment of a human corpse, fourth-degree grand larceny, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, second-degree criminal impersonation, and fifth-degree welfare fraud in the death of D’Asia Johnson, 22.
“D’Asia Johnson suffered horrific violence at the hands of this defendant, who then compounded that cruelty with conduct that showed a staggering disregard for her life, her dignity and the loved ones desperately searching for her,” Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in a news release on Wednesday.
Gonzalez said Williams and Johnson were in “a romantic relationship for several years,” adding that Williams repeatedly abused her. At the time of her murder, an order of protection required Williams to stay away from her.
Prosecutors said Johnson went to her East New York apartment on Aug. 21, 2022, and stayed overnight. Early the next morning, Williams stabbed her nine times, hitting her heart and lung.
Williams then dismembered Johnson, put her remains in garbage bags, and kept them in her bathroom for about a month, prosecutors said.
Gonzalez said Williams then continued living in the apartment and used Johnson’s money and public benefits. Prosecutors said he impersonated Johnson to call her employer so her paychecks would continue, as well as used money from her bank account to pay prostitutes — who he brought to the apartment.
Williams also brought his young son into the apartment while Johnson’s remains were rotting inside, prosecutors said.
When Johnson’s family looked for her, prosecutors said Williams impersonated her in an effort to conceal her death.
Her remains were eventually found after building personnel became concerned about her absence, conducted a wellness check, and called police.
“[Williams] has now been held accountable for that horrific brutality, and I hope D’Asia’s family can find some measure of solace and justice in today’s sentence,” Gonzalez said.