Gladys Johnson, a 22-year-old pregnant woman from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was found dead in her home following a house fire on January 5, 2026, ruled a homicide by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner due to possible traumatic injuries from an assault by her estranged boyfriend. The 21-year-old suspect, father of her 3-year-old daughter and unborn son, was arrested less than 30 minutes after the incident near 26th and Hadley, facing charges of first-degree intentional homicide and arson despite lacking a prior Wisconsin criminal record; the couple had a documented history of domestic violence.​
Incident Response
Johnson’s mother, Michelle, smelled smoke around 11:30 p.m., found the boyfriend blocking the bedroom door, and saw him point a gun at another daughter before he fled; she extinguished the fire and pulled her unresponsive daughter from the flames. Police arrived to confirm the intentional arson, with the medical examiner noting assault-related trauma as the likely cause amid the blaze.​
Family Impact
Johnson was five months pregnant with a son at the time of death, leaving her 3-year-old daughter who may have witnessed the events. The suspect remains in custody pending formal charges, as authorities continue investigating the domestic dispute that escalated fatally.
