Baton Rouge, LA – A Louisiana jury has convicted Earl Lee Johnson, 39, of first-degree murder for the brutal killing of Janice David, 34, a crime he livestreamed on Facebook before attempting to burn the car with her body inside.
The 2022 murder, which shocked the Baton Rouge community and drew national attention, was described by authorities as a “gruesome” and “evil” act. The jury reached a guilty verdict in just over an hour after a five-day trial, which included a 16-minute video of the murder as evidence.
The Crime Caught on Camera
On April 18, 2022, Louisiana State Police were alerted to a disturbing Facebook Live video showing a man choking, beating, and stabbing a woman. The tip led officers to a vehicle on South Sherwood Forest Boulevard in Baton Rouge, where they discovered Janice David’s lifeless body.
Prosecutors say Johnson recorded the entire attack, narrating his actions and motives on the livestream. The video ended with Johnson attempting to set the car on fire with David’s body still inside.
“In the video, he told you exactly what he was doing, and he did it in front of you,” said prosecutor Dana Cummings during closing arguments.
“He wanted everyone to see it… he wanted to be famous.”
Chilling Confession on Livestream
During the trial, jurors heard Johnson say on video:
“She was going to say I raped her, they’re going to believe her over me. If I’m going down, I’m going to live forever.”
Prosecutors pointed to these statements as clear evidence of premeditation, rejecting claims of insanity or diminished capacity.
Defense Claims Mental Illness and Drug Use
Johnson’s attorney, Hafiz Folami, argued that his client was not mentally stable at the time of the murder. He said Johnson and David had been on a multi-day drug binge, and that Johnson was suffering from a “severe mental defect.”
But the jury was unconvinced, siding with prosecutors who insisted that Johnson understood his actions and made a calculated decision to murder and broadcast it.
Arrest and Charges
Johnson was initially arrested for stealing a vehicle, but quickly faced more serious charges after authorities connected him to the livestreamed murder. He was charged with:
First-degree murder
Theft of a motor vehicle
Aggravated flight from an officer
Lt. L’Jean McKneely of the Baton Rouge Police Department called the case one of the most disturbing he’d seen, referring to it as a “very gruesome, very evil act.”
What Happens Next
With the first-degree murder conviction, Johnson now faces the possibility of life in prison without parole. Louisiana law allows for the death penalty in first-degree murder cases, though prosecutors have not yet announced if they will pursue it.
Sentencing is expected to follow soon. No sentencing date has been announced at the time of writing.
Remembering Janice David
Janice David, 34, is remembered by family and friends as a woman who struggled but was loved. Advocates have pointed to her death as a chilling reminder of the need for stronger protections against gender-based violence, especially in vulnerable communities.
Case Summary
| Name | Earl Lee Johnson |
|---|---|
| Age | 39 |
| Victim | Janice David, 34 |
| Date of Incident | April 18, 2022 |
| Location | Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| Charges | First-degree murder, theft, flight |
| Verdict | Guilty of first-degree murder |
| Evidence | 16-minute Facebook Live video |
