Mother allegedly stabbed her 3-year-old daughter to death, disposed of body in trash bag: Police

A Michigan mother who police alleged appeared “unemotional” when finding out about the discovery of her 3-year-old daughter’s body has been charged with murder in connection to the girl’s stabbing death.\

On Sept. 16, a brother of Justine Johnson, 22, asked her the whereabouts of her young daughter, Sutton Mosser, but she refused to answer, police said in an affidavit.

Around 4 a.m. the next day, one of Johnson’s brothers called to report to authorities in Oscoda Township that he had seen a human foot sticking out of a black garbage bag, WJRT-TV reported.

Responding officers discovered the body of the young child but her mother, Johnson, was not at home, the affidavit states. The toddler had suffered multiple stab wounds to her chest, WNEM reported.

Police were able to locate Johnson over four hours later walking along railroad tracks, but she would not discuss her daughter’s death.

Officers took Johnson into custody and on Sept. 20 she was arraigned on one count each of felony murder and first-degree child abuse. She pleaded not guilty to the charges and is being held without bond in the Iosco County Jail.

Johnson is scheduled to appear in court for a probable cause hearing on Sept. 29. She faces life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted of murder.

The child’s grandmother, Alisa Johnson, told WNEM-TV the little girl was “full of life” and “very smart.”

“I broke down,” she said of learning the news her granddaughter was dead. “I told them tell me it’s not true that I needed to get to my baby, and this couldn’t be happening.”

The grieving grandmother said she believes her daughter is innocent of the accusations against her.

“Justine loved Sutton with all her heart,” Alisa Johnson said. “She’d never let anybody hurt that baby she would always there for her she never did anything to hurt her.”

She added: “I want a fair investigation for my child. I want my granddaughter to have the proper justice.”