Prosecutors: 89-year-old Josephine Johnson killed when she caught burglar breaking into her home

Jeff Mayes — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 14:09:59 -0600

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Trae Chatmon | Chicago Police

An 18-year-old man stabbed 89-year-old Josephine Johnson to death, then set her apartment on fire to cover it up after she caught him breaking into her Washington Park home last week, according to Cook County prosecutors.

Trae Chatmon has been charged with first-degree murder, according to Chicago Police.

Another resident woke to a smell of smoke in the three-story apartment building in the 5100 block of South Michigan Avenue in the early morning hours of Oct. 26, according to prosecutors.

The neighbor had seen 89-year-old Josephine Johnson return home from church the night before. He used a spare key to enter her first-floor apartment to check on her, and that's where he found her body lying on the floor outside her bedroom, prosecutors said.

Johnson was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 3:03 a.m., authorities said. An autopsy found she died of multiple blunt and sharp force injuries from an assault, and her death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. She also suffered blunt force injuries to her head and burns on her upper torso, prosecutors said.

Josephine Johnson | Facebook

The apartment had been ransacked and a window had been broken, prosecutors said. Knives were recovered and multiple pieces of jewelry were found strewn on Johnson's bed.

About half an hour later, Chatmon was caught burglarizing a home nearby in the 300 block of East 53rd Street, prosecutors said. He was caught on surveillance video breaking into that home and was arrested.

Officers found several piece of jewelry on Chatmon, prosecutors said. One of those pieces, a broach, matched two broaches found on Johnson's bed, prosecutors said.

Chatmon was tentatively identified by a witness as the man seen standing outside Johnson's home as the fire burned, and blood on his clothing when he was arrested has been submitted for testing and analysis, prosecutors said.

Chatmon admitted he broke into Johnson's apartment through a window, then stabbed her with two knives after she caught him, prosecutors said. He set the home on fire because he was scared and wanted to cover it up.

He then ran away, but returned to the scene briefly around the same time firefighters arrived.

Chatmon, of the 4900 block of South St. Lawrence Avenue, was ordered held on a $1 million bond Thursday by Judge Laura Sullivan. He was already being held at the Cook County Jail on charges of residential burglary and aggravated battery to a police officer.

18-year-old man charged with fatal stabbing of 89-year-old Josephine Johnson during Washington Heights robbery

Jeff Mayes — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 09:30:04 -0600

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Trae Chatmon | Chicago Police

An 18-year-old man forced his way into 89-year-old Josephine Johnson's Washington Park apartment, stabbed her to death, robbed her and then set the apartment on fire, according to Chicago Police.

has been charged with stabbing an elderly woman to death before setting her Washington Park neighborhood apartment on fire last week on the South Side.

Trae Chatmon has been charged with first-degree murder for killing Johnson last week, police said.

Chatmon forced his way into Johnson's apartment in the 5100 block of South Michigan Avenue during the early hours of Oct. 26, according to police. He struck her in the head with an object and then stabbed her multiple times.

Josephine Johnson | Facebook

Chatmon then ransacked the apartment and set it on fire before leaving with several items of Johnson's property, police said.

Her body was discovered by firefighters in the first-floor apartment at 2:50 a.m., authorities said. She was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 3:03 a.m.

An autopsy found she died of multiple blunt and sharp force injuries from an assault, and her death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

A man, also thought to be in his 80s, was on the third floor when firefighters arrived. He was suffering from smoke inhalation and was taken in serious-to-critical condition to the University of Chicago.

Chatmon, of the 4900 block of South St. Lawrence Avenue, was already in custody at the Cook County Jail on a separate charge, police said. He is scheduled to appear in bond court Thursday.

Trae Chatmon | Homicide Watch Chicago

Prosecutors: 89-year-old Josephine Johnson killed when she caught burglar breaking into her home

18-year-old man charged with fatal stabbing of 89-year-old Josephine Johnson during Washington Heights robbery