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Mom Accused Of Suffocating Baby With Plastic BagAnchorage police say Sarah Johnson’s case is first infanticide case of the yearRelated Content
ANCHORAGE—A 33-year-old Anchorage woman is accused of suffocating her 3-week-old daughter with a plastic bag and admitting to it. But it was a week, though, before Anchorage police even considered Sarah Johnson as a first-degree murder suspect.
Johnson called 911 on Aug. 5, saying her baby was not breathing. She told dispatchers her 3-week-old daughter, Pepper, was blue and cold to the touch.
They talked her through resuscitation moves, but by the time medics arrived, Pepper was dead.
“Two detectives went out to investigate,” said Anchorage police Sgt. Cindi Stanton of APD’s Crimes Against Children Unit. “They spoke to the parents, interviewed them. There was a scene investigation. At that point in time, there was nothing we had—no injuries to the body on the outside of the baby. Then everybody kind of went home.”
Stanton said that was about 8 p.m on Fri., Aug. 5. Several hours later, Johnson posted on her Facebook page:
“Our baby girl was found this evening dead in her crib. We don't know why, but the medical team did ‘all they could.’ Please don't respond, as we know your thoughts are with us. Will be taking a Facebook hiatus for a while. Love to all.”
A week later, on Aug. 12, investigators got new information.
“Last Friday we got a tip that maybe the mother of the child was responsible for killing the child,” Stanton said.
The tip was from Johnson's friend, Amber Michael, who told police that Johnson’s sister, Michelle Karnes, who lives in Idaho, had told Michael that Johnson had admitted to killing Pepper. According to charging documents, Johnson had called Karnes “on Aug. 8 or 9 and confessed to her that she had suffocated Pepper by placing a plastic bag over her head for 30 minutes.”
On Aug. 16, a detective went back to Johnson, who stuck to her story that Pepper had died in her sleep when she was placed on her stomach.
“She told a little bit about what happened the 48 hours before the incident and then chose not to talk to us any more,” Stanton said.
But Johnson told her husband, Ben, a different story.
Police say Ben agreed to let them record his conversation with his wife.
“She told her husband that she committed the crime,” Stanton said.
According to charging documents, Johnson told her husband “that nothing specific happened that provoked her. The baby was not crying or fussing. She stated that she did it because she felt overwhelmed and wanted out. Sarah (Johnson) admitted that she had told her mom and her sister Michelle the truth, and had lied to the police.”
After that recorded conversation, Johnson was arrested at her home on the 400 block of West 76th Avenue.
In Wednesday afternoon’s arraignment, Johnson told police she didn’t have income or savings. Anchorage district Judge Brian Clark said she would be appointed a public defender.
Johnson’s friends and family members say Johnson, who went off her Prozac medication while pregnant and breast-feeding, is now suicidal.
“The important thing is getting justice for the baby,” Stanton said. “Somebody was killed.”
If convicted, Johnson faces up to 99 years behind bars and $500,000 in fines.
Johnson’s pre-indictment hearing is scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
Meanwhile, she’s being held at the Anchorage jail on $500,000 bail and a third-party custodian.
Clark ordered Johnson not to contact her husband or Michael and also told her not to discuss the case with her mother or sister.
Police say they want to remind all parents who feel overwhelmed to make use of the state's safe haven laws, which allows parents to surrender their babies without being prosecuted.
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anonymous said on Thursday, Jan 12 at 10:53 PM
I tried to search her up on courtview... nothing but divorce and traffic tickets came up in alaska... was there something else you found?
79806829unknown said on Monday, Sep 5 at 7:46 PM
I can't stand the Mental illness excuse. When you are discharged from the hospital they check your mental history past to see if there is an increased risk for postpartum. If there is they monitor you. As for Sarah using the mental illness card, that is a joke. Someone who knows to lie to the police and has a story lined up and ready to tell police how the baby died doesn't sound mentally sick to me, sounds like a murderer.
73423336PPD cont. said on Sunday, Sep 4 at 9:45 AM
The only good thing about jailing her is she is less likely to kill herself- if it were me Id be thinking of a way "out" ....not because of jail... but because everything is broken. My condolences to the family, there are no words for how regrettable this is.
73372012PPD said on Sunday, Sep 4 at 9:44 AM
Postpartum depression is a real and serious condition that escalates typically after a mother is discharged from the hospital. With a patient with a history of depression the risk is higher. Some of these women fantasize about killing their babies. Its not a excuse for murder, however she did have documented history of mental illness, documented discontinued use of prescription med (being on and stopping prosac can cause suicidal idealization) and then postpartum depression too. She will not be convicted as a cold blooded murderer... nor should she be ethically- she was mentally unstable. Its a horrible situation... and that mom is going to come out of all this with the guilt of "killing her baby girl" and a public stigma that condemns her and her family. Dad I know is devastated- he just lost his daughter and may lose his wife. They needed help... now that Pepper is dead they both really have a reason to be "mentally unstable".
73371986Conservative American said on Friday, Aug 19 at 8:10 PM
For all of you guys that are attacking "conservative," they were being sarcastic. OBVIOUSLY it's wrong to kill a child. The liberals (which I'm guessing you guys are) say that killing an unborn child is NOT murder...knuckleheads. PEOPLE! Even if you're completely immoral, abortion is in direct violation of human rights. We were endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights! LIFE, liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. It can't get much clearer than that. ABORTION IS MURDER. Sugarcoatting it won't change that fact.
72634502Anonymous said on Thursday, Aug 18 at 1:44 PM
Has anyone considered the Father's rights. She could have walked away at any time and had 4 months to consider abortion. If it was alright to kill her baby why did she lie to the police? To Conservative: The Bible is not yours to twist how you want. "You Shall Not Murder." "You Shall Not Steal." Regardless if it is in a court of law or standing before St. Peter there is no excuse for what this women has done. Also look her up, CourtView is a wonderful thing. This is not her first time in front of a judge for serious crimes.
72566361So sad said on Thursday, Aug 18 at 9:25 AM
This woman is crazy and should be put away for the rest of her life. Why not put the baby up for adoption. Some people just do not use their head. Our thoughts and prayers are with the child.
72549896annitta said on Thursday, Aug 18 at 8:22 AM
this is for Conservative who said and quote: We don't put anyone in jail for abortions??? If the woman wants to kill her baby that's fine right?" UNQUOTE Hmm, you know there is nothing in the Bible about abortion, but there is something about men spilling their seed on the ground as a sin, and thus, and this will make about as much sense as what you just said: I think we women should picket doctor clinics where men get fixed so they are no longer able to produce sperm. After all, is that not killing potential kids? Come on! so what you and others like you say is if a child gets preggie by her father, uncle, or brother, the she is to carry that child even if the mom would be 12? The woman who may die giving birth? A rape victim? I do agree, that no woman should use abortion as a means of birth control and that there needs to be a law about the second and third trimester. However, you have so much love for children and against abortion and yet, you appear to condone the murder.
72545719Anonymous said on Thursday, Aug 18 at 7:19 AM
would have been more than happy to take that baby she is and was a gift, god rest her soul
72541813conservative said on Thursday, Aug 18 at 7:16 AM
why give her 99 years??? We don't put anyone in jail for abortions??? If the woman wants to kill her baby that's fine right?
72541626none said on Thursday, Aug 18 at 12:21 AM
She is a wate of Human life! That baby did nothing and she just killed her. Someone should put a plastic bag over Johnsons head! Shame on her!!!
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