NEW YORK, NY – A woman from New York City has been sentenced to two decades in prison for the fatal abuse of her teenage cousin, a 15-year-old boy with intellectual disabilities who suffered relentless torture before his death in June 2021.
Jallen McConnie, who had autism, died due to “homicidal asphyxia” after enduring extreme physical abuse in his cousin Johnette Booker’s Manhattan residence, as reported by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. Booker, 43, was convicted of multiple charges, such as manslaughter, in February and has now received a 20-year prison sentence.
During the trial, testimony revealed that Jallen had been sent to live with Booker for what was described by a relative as a “cousin boot camp.” Instead of discipline, the boy faced severe neglect and inhumane treatment. According to District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Booker repeatedly subjected him to physical and emotional harm.
The prosecution outlined the various methods of abuse Jallen endured, including beatings with belts, being forced to sleep on the floor, excessive exercise, and the withholding of his medication. These actions were purportedly part of what Booker considered necessary discipline.
On the day Jallen died, Booker reportedly assaulted him for more than an hour, striking him violently on multiple parts of his body, resulting in extensive injuries. Prosecutors disclosed that two other individuals participated in the attack, contributing to Jallen’s waterboarding that led to his eventual collapse in the bathroom.
Following the assault, Booker neglected to seek medical help for Jallen or inform his family of the situation. Instead, she provided authorities with inconsistent accounts, initially alleging that Jallen had been “jumped” by local youths and later falsely asserting his death was a suicide.
To support Jallen’s family, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help cover the costs of his headstone and memorial services as they cope with this devastating loss.
District Attorney Bragg decried Booker’s actions as “vicious and cruel,” emphasizing the appalling level of abuse and trauma inflicted upon the young boy. Booker’s convictions include first-degree manslaughter, assault charges, gang assault, and child endangerment, which she will serve in a state prison.
The sentencing serves as a grim reminder of the vulnerability of those with disabilities and the responsibility of caregivers to safeguard, not harm, those under their protection.