OSCODA TWP, MI — When police responded to a little girl’s body having been found in a trash bag in northern Michigan, they went looking for the child’s mother, 22-year-old Justine M. Johnson. Eventually finding Johnson walking along some rural railroad tracks, they broke the news to her that her child had been killed.
In response, the mother seemed to have no reaction, appearing unmoved by the news. Within a few days, Johnson would be charged with murder, accused of repeatedly stabbing her 3-year-old child to death.
These details and more are contained in a statement in support of a warrant, acquired by MLive from the Iosco County District Court.
The two-page document states that about 3:50 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 17, two Oscoda Township police officers responded to a residence in the 5400 block of Cedar Lake Road after a 23-year-old brother of Johnson’s called 911 to report having found a human foot jutting out of black garbage bag. On inspecting the bag, the officers found the body of Sutton M. Mosser.
Sutton’s body had been wrapped in bedding, and the trash bag had itself been placed in a blue plastic tote, the document states. Sutton’s body was clothed only in a pink and white disposable diaper.
Officers interviewed Johnson’s brother who called 911, as well as a 17-year-old brother. The younger brother said he awoke about 6 p.m. on Sept. 16, went to a bathroom, and found his sister using drugs, he said.
When the teen asked Johnson where Sutton was, she told him to “mind your (expletive) business,” the document states.
The brother took a shower and on exiting it, he noticed Johnson was no longer in the house, he told police.
The teen brother left the house to visit a girl, returning home to the Cedar Lake address about 10:30 p.m., he said. His sister was still not there, he said.
The older brother told police he arrived home about 3:30 a.m. on Sept. 17, finding only his younger brother there. The younger man told his older brother he had found a human foot sticking through a trash bag, prompting them to search the area for their sister.
The older brother “became extremely upset” and called 911, the document states.
Click here to see a photo tribute to Sutton’s life.
Police found Johnson about 8:50 a.m., walking on the Lake State Railway tracks north of Vaughn Trail. They took her to headquarters and tried interviewing her.
A detective sergeant told Johnson her daughter had been found dead.
“Justine Johnson gave no reaction to the news of her daughter being deceased and appeared unemotional,” the document states. “The [detective sergeant] noted that Justine Johnson remained unemotional and calm and advised [him] that she did not wish to talk about the death of her daughter.”
The Michigan State Police Forensic Science Laboratory Technician Team processed the scene and noted Sutton had been stabbed multiple times. In the trash bag with Sutton were a sweatshirt and a pair of size 11 women’s pants, with a notable amount of blood on the latter.
During her interview with police, Johnson said she wore size 11 pants, the document states. Both of Johnson’s brothers identified the sweatshirt found with Sutton’s body as belonging to Johnson, adding she was wearing it on Sept. 16, the document states.
Johnson on Monday, Sept. 20, was arraigned on charges of felony murder and first-degree child abuse. Both charges are life offenses.
Iosco County Prosecutor James A. Bacarella said his office does not have a theory on Johnson’s motive.
“Any time a child dies it is a tragedy, but for a child to pass away in this manner it is unimaginable and truly shakes us to our souls,” Bacarella said.
Contacted by MLive, a cousin of Johnson’s declined to comment on the case, saying the family is grieving and is not ready to discuss the matter publicly. Johnson’s mother also declined to be interviewed and asked reporters to no longer contact her.
In a prior interview with WNEM-TV5, Johnson’s mother said her daughter loved Sutton with all her heart.
“She’d never let anybody hurt that baby she would always there for her she never did anything to hurt her,” Johnson’s mother told WNEM, adding she believes her daughter is innocent in Sutton’s homicide.
Johnson is being held without bond. Her case is scheduled for a preliminary examination at 10 a.m. on Oct. 12.
Read more:
Woman arraigned on murder charge in death of 3-year-old found in trash bag
Child’s body found in trash bag in northern Michigan, woman arrested on murder charge
Saginaw County man heads to prison for killing woman by drunkenly crashing boat into bridge
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