Mother sentenced for murdering her son
Virginia Cunningham/News-Sun
Mary Johnson pled guilty to second-degree murder on Thursday and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
On July 10, 2022, Mary Johnson stabbed her eleven-year-old son repeatedly which resulted in his death. Johnson also stabbed herself in the chest multiple times.
District Attorney Diana Luce sought to charge Johnson with first-degree murder, in which Johnson originally entered a plea of “insanity and incapacity to form specific intent.”
But on Thursday Johnson accepted plea agreement and pled guilty to second-degree murder.
The second-degree murder charge carries a sentence of 15 years imprisonment and a fine of $12,500, followed by two years of parole. Five years was added to the sentencing for aggravated circumstances, according to the judgement and sentencing document filed with the Fifth Judicial District Court.
Credit for time served will be granted. The fine of $12,500 was suspended.
Because the court deemed the offense violent and serious, meritorious deduction of prison time shall not exceed a maximum of four days per month of time served, according to the judgement filed.
Johnson was ordered to pay restitution for funeral expenses for her son.
“Such a tragic event when anyone, especially, a young person dies untimely and at the hands of a parent. These types of cases are never easy. We can only hope to provide some sense of closure and justice to the family. We extend our gratitude to our Law Enforcement partners on this case specifically the Lea County Sheriff’s Office for a job well done,” Luce stated.
On July 10,2022 Lea County Sheriff Deputies responded to a call for two stabbing victims. The first deputy on scene stated he observed Johnson lying on the kitchen floor, suffering from multiple stab wounds to the chest. The deputy then located the eleven-year-old victim lying on his bed with a knife embedded in his back, according to the deputy’s report.
Both Johnson and her son were taken to Covenant Health Hobbs Hospital for treatment. Johnson was transferred to a Lubbock hospital for further treatment and her son succumbed to injuries.
Johnson later admitted to deputies she killed her son and attempted to kill herself, according to the report.
