Joshua Johnson has finally been sentenced and charged for the murder of Riley Whitelaw at a Walgreens in Colorado Spring were both of them worked back in 2022. Whitelaw was 17 years old at the time of the attack and Johnson was 28 years old. He was found guilty with stabbing Whitelaw to death. The attack took place inside the breakroom of the store, where police officials say, Johnson stabbed Whitelaw 42 times until she unfortunately passed away.
It has been stated that the attack also took place during the open hours of the store. Meaning, employees and customers where inside the store during the murder. After she was stabbed to death, other Walgreens employees found her body inside the store breakroom. Additionally, Whitelaw was working at Walgreens as a part-time employee during the summer. Prior to the incident, she had submitted complaints pertaining to how Johnson made her feel uncomfortable. She talked to her manager about wanting to work different shifts than Johnson. Unfortunately, her concerns appeared to be ignored and was made to work with him regardless.
Surveillance footage captured Johnson stacking bins in front of the surveillance camera. Additionally, the manager recalled seeing Johnson place strips of tape over the windows of the breakroom. The sign “restroom closed” was also placed outside in order to keep people out of that area.
The Trial Process
The scene was reported on June 11, 2022 and Johnson was arrested one day later after the attack, he was found 100 miles outside of Colorado Springs in the Walsenburg area by Colorado State Patrol troopers.
On Sep. 25, 2023, the trial began, and Johnson refused to testify in court. However, his defense team claimed Johnson was not responsible for the incident. In fact, they stated another man was responsible for the murder of Whitelaw. A man named Alan Wise, who frequented the store and dig through dumpsters, was who the defense claimed committed the murder.
However, the prosecution stated that Jonson killed Whitelaw out of pure jealousy and hatred towards Whitelaw. Especially, since prior to the murder, she had rejected his romantic advances. Additionally, they pointed out he was also said to be jealous of her new boyfriend, who worked in the same Walgreens as both of them.
Final Verdict
Despite the multiple attempts of proving Johnson innocent of any crime, he was still convicted. On Oct. 4, 2023, Johnson was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The case was handed to the jury at about 12:25 p.m. on Wednesday, at 1:35 p.m. the verdict was reported and at 2:00 p.m. Johnson was convicted.
During the trial, multiple family members and friends expressed their sorrow and hatred towards Johnson for taking such a precious life away from them. Not to mention, ripping Riley away from her future, hopes, and dreams. She was scheduled to graduate from Air Academy High School this past spring. Some of the statements of her loved ones:
- “You are a monster. I can’t speak your name,” Kelly Whitelaw. Riley Whitelaw’s aunt, said to Johnson. “Riley mattered — her life mattered.”
- “My daughter lost her best friend…I have never felt a more profound sadness,” said Jenn Swain, the mother of Whitelaw’s friend Jordan Swain. “Her death has left empty spaces in our lives.”
- “I was blessed enough to be a part of Riley’s life for the past six years,” said Chris Johnson, Whitelaw’s stepfather. “Riley was the daughter I never had.”
Written By Nohemi Sanchez
Sources:
The Gazette: Colorado Springs man found guilty in Walgreens murder after short deliberation
CBS COLORADO: Joshua Johnson found guilty of murdering Riley Whitelaw at Walgreens in Colorado Springs
11NEWS: Man found guilty of murdering 17-year-old Riley Whitelaw at a Colorado Springs Walgreens
Featured Image Courtesy of Mike Mozart and JeepersMedia Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Thomas Eckermann Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
