Murder Charges Dropped Against Widow
Charges have been dropped against a woman who was accused of killing her lawyer-husband in their Farmington Hills home.
Prosecutors notified a judge during a court hearing Wednesday in Farmington Hills. An autopsy found Lloyd Johnson's death was caused by complications from an old boating injury.
Laura Johnson had been charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter and practicing medicine without a license.
Later, the Oakland County medical examiner ruled Lloyd Johnson's death "accidental," saying the 47-year old had an open wound on his lower back, the result of an oar piercing him there. He said Johnson weighed 413 pounds and had other health problems, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Chief Assistant Oakland County Prosecutor Paul Walton explained to the court that those charges resulted from police and hospital staff interviews Lloyd Johnson at Botsford hospital, last week before he died.
"Although he was unable to speak, he was able to shake his head yes or no in response to an officer's questions. He affirmatively indicated that his wife had been performing surgery on him, and it was with his consent," Walton said.
Walton said Laura Johnson had been removing dead tissue from his wound. "According to the victim's adult child, the victim recently made statements he thought she, Mrs. Johnson, was going to kill him," Walton said.
The investigation continues. More charges could yet be filed.
"There are three states of mind for a second degree murder. There is the intent to kill, which is a purposeful act. There is the intent to commit great bodily harm, which is a purposeful act. There is also a wonton, willful disregard for human life and the likely consequences -- which means that you engage on conduct that will likely, or could likely, result in the death of another person," Walton said.
Meantime, Johnson has another date in court Friday regarding the custody of her eight and 10-year old sons.
(Copyright 2010 by WWJ Radio. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
