A New Mexico mother pleaded guilty Thursday to stabbing her 11-year-old son to death in 2022.
Mary Johnson, 49, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the death of Bruce Johnson Jr. According to News West 9, Johnson will spend 20 years in prison and eligible for “pre-sentence confinement credit.” She was spared of having to pay a $12,500 fee after a Lea County judge suspended it.
Johnson initially entered a plea of “insanity and incapacity to form specific intent” when charged with first-degree murder. She changed her plea to guilty as part of a plea deal for the lesser charge on Thursday, News-Sun reports.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, the victim’s father, Bruce Johnson Sr., woke up at around 1 a.m. to the sounds of his son screaming as the defendants stabbed the boy multiple times in their Hobb residence in July 2022.
Johnson Sr. had previously left the defendant, taking his son with him. He told invetstigators he left because she was abusing the child, but she begged for weeks to see him until he relented.
Johnson Sr. moved from Oklahoma to Hobbs, New Mexico, to start a new life with his son, and allowed his wife to move in to spend time with Bruce Jr. while the divorce was being finalized.
“The investigation revealed that Bruce, Sr. had moved to Hobbs with his son from Oklahoma and left Mary behind after allegations she was abusing their son,” deputies stated.
“Bruce, Sr’s intent was to file for a divorce due to the abuse and because she was often violent with him. He explained Mary had not seen their son in approximately 40 days and had been begging to see him. Mary then came to live with them in Hobbs to spend time with them before the divorce was filed.”
After the stabbing, Mary Johnson turned the knife on herself. First responders found both the victim and suspect in critical condition and took them to the Covenant Hobbs Hospital in Hobbs.
“Bruce, Jr. was conscious upon arriving at the hospital, where he spoke with the Investigator, advising his mom, Mary, had stabbed him,” deputies said after the incident. “Bruce, Jr. succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 4:19 a.m. by the attending physician.”
Johnson later admitted to investigators that she stabbed her son several times before trying to take her own life.
“Such a tragic event when anyone, especially, a young person dies untimely and at the hands of a parent,” District Attorney Diana Luce said after sentencing.
“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.”
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[Featured image: Bruce Johnson Jr./Handout]
