BATON ROUGE, LA – A Baton Rouge man has been convicted of first-degree murder in the brutal killing of a woman that was broadcast live on social media, an attack that stunned both jurors and the local community with its violence and brazenness.
Earl Lee Johnson, 39, faces a mandatory life sentence without parole after a jury took just over an hour to find him guilty in the 2022 slaying of 34-year-old Janice David. Authorities say Johnson beat, choked, and stabbed David inside a car before attempting to set the vehicle on fire, all while live-streaming the attack on Facebook.
The conviction followed a five-day trial marked by harrowing evidence, including a 16-minute video of the assault shown to the jury. Prosecutors argued that Johnson’s decision to record and broadcast the murder demonstrated clear intent, refuting attempts by his defense to claim insanity or diminished capacity due to drug use.
During closing arguments, the prosecution emphasized the deliberate nature of the crime, highlighting the fact that Johnson appeared to want notoriety for his actions. Jurors were shown footage in which Johnson commented on the attack as it unfolded, providing chilling narration and references to his motives.
The defense countered that Johnson and David had been using drugs in the days leading up to the killing, claiming Johnson was suffering from severe mental impairment at the time. His attorneys argued that his state of mind rendered him incapable of forming the intent required for a first-degree murder conviction.
Court documents show David’s body was discovered in a burned vehicle on April 18, 2022, after local authorities were alerted by state police. The notification came when Facebook flagged the disturbing video and contacted Louisiana State Police, who then informed the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office.
Responding officers arrived at South Sherwood Forest Boulevard shortly before 10 p.m., finding the vehicle and the victim inside. Johnson was initially taken into custody on unrelated charges of vehicle theft but was quickly linked to the homicide following further investigation.
Law enforcement officials outlined a disturbing sequence of events that included Johnson attempting to evade capture and engaging in reckless behavior both before and after the murder. Evidence gathered indicated a prolonged period of heavy drug use by both Johnson and David in the days preceding the attack.
Investigators have described the killing as one of the most gruesome crimes the city has seen in recent years, emphasizing the impact on first responders, the victim’s family, and members of the public who viewed the livestream. Officials underscored the crucial role social media played in alerting authorities to the incident, prompting a swift response despite the horrifying circumstances.
Johnson is set to be sentenced on December 10. He remains in custody as legal proceedings continue.