The person accused of killing 17-year-old Riley Whitelaw in a Colorado Springs Walgreens breakroom in June 2022 was discovered responsible of first-degree homicide and sentenced to life in jail on Wednesday.
A jury discovered Joshua Johnson responsible of first-degree homicide, and 4th Judicial District Court docket Decide Eric Bentley sentenced Johnson to life in jail on Wednesday, 4th Judicial District Lawyer Michael Allen stated at a information convention.
Whitelaw and Johnson, 29, have been coworkers at Walgreens within the 6800 block of Centennial Boulevard. Whitelaw had beforehand advised a retailer supervisor that Johnson made her really feel uncomfortable, and he had made advances towards her, in line with an arrest affidavit.
On June 11, 2022, Johnson was seen stacking bins in entrance of a surveillance digicam within the breakroom earlier than the homicide, and workers later found Whitelaw’s physique, which had stab wounds.
Johnson was arrested after he was discovered by the Colorado State Patrol strolling alongside Interstate 25 close to Trinidad with scratches on his fingers and face.
Johnson pleaded not responsible to the fees.
A vase of sunflowers sat on the rostrum at Wednesday’s information convention as a result of the flowers remind Whitelaw’s household of her mild, district legal professional’s workplace spokesperson Kate Singh stated.
Her household referred to as her “Smiley Riley” and “Sunshine,” and she or he was a vibrant soul, Singh stated.
Allen thanked the legislation enforcement officers, prosecutors, sufferer advocates and others concerned within the case for his or her work to result in justice for Whitelaw.
“They labored arduous to seek out the reality in order that the depraved will be punished in line with the legislation,” Allen stated. “At the moment, that punishment arrived with a responsible verdict and a life in jail sentence for the brutal and mindless homicide of Riley. Riley’s mild continues to burn vivid, and her family members, pals and Riley’s mother have devoted themselves to guarding that flame. Riley will not be forgotten, and at this time she obtained the justice that Colorado legislation can present.”
Whitelaw’s legacy will embrace a legislation handed this 12 months to guard juvenile victims, witnesses and their households, Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez stated.
“At the moment we stand collectively as a measure of justice has been discovered,” Vasquez stated. “Whereas we all know this verdict can’t deliver Riley again, we all know her legacy of being a sort and loving individual will stay on by means of her household and her pals and the laws caused within the wake of this tragedy.”
Senate Invoice 23-075 requires {that a} juvenile sufferer’s or witness’ identify and figuring out info be deleted from felony justice data which are launched to the general public.
“I’m grateful that Riley’s legislation will enable us additional safety for different victims, witnesses and their households statewide,” Vasquez stated.
Whitelaw’s household began a nonprofit in her honor after elevating greater than $60,000 on GoFundMe. The Riley I Whitelaw Memorial Fund awarded its first scholarships and grants in Might to Whitelaw’s classmates graduating from Air Academy Excessive Faculty, together with two $2,000 scholarships and 4 $400 grants, in line with the group’s web site.
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