Laverne Johnson
Murderer
Brian Kevin Rosenfeld
Murderer · USA · 1985
Brian Kevin Rosenfeld Brian Kevin Rosenfeld was sentenced to three concurrent l…
23 victims
Yahweh ben Yahweh
Murderer · USA · 1980
Yahweh ben Yahweh was born and legally named Hulon Mitchell Jr. (October 27, 19…
23 victims
Russell Ellwood
Murderer · USA · 1991
Russell Ellwood was a former taxi driver. Authorities suspected him of killing…
20 victims
Jaturun Siripongs
Murderer · USA · 1981
Jaturun Siripongs was a native of Thailand and was known as “Jay” to friends an…
2 victims
Jack Wayne Reeves
Murderer · USA · 1967
Jack Wayne Reeves was born in Wichita Falls, where he reached adolescence in th…
3 victims
William Henry Hance
Serial killer · USA · 1977
William Henry Hance was executed by electrocution in Georgia on March 31, 1994.…
3 victims
William Freund
Homicide · USA · 2005
October 15, 2005 — Freund wrote that he had tried suicide before. · October 29,…
2 victims
Ervin Lupoe
Mass murderer · USA · 2009
Ervin Lupoe killed his wife, Ana Lupoe, and their five children, then killed hi…
6 victims
Floyd Tapson
Murderer? · USA · 1987
Floyd Tapson was convicted by a jury in the Thirteenth Judicial District Court,…
3 victims
- Gender
- male
- Country
- USA
- Location
- San Mateo County, California, USA
- Date of birth
- ???
- Characteristics
- murder for hire, robbery, arson, domestic dispute
- Victim profile
- Maria Victoria Holmes, 52, and her daughter, Luisa Anna Castro, 32
- Method of murder
- Blows to her head and face - Strangulation
- Date(s) of murder
- January 15, 1986
- Years active
- 1986
- Date of arrest
- —
- Status
-
Sentenced to death
Sentenced to death
Name
Laverne Johnson
STATUS
Sentenced to death
Background
On January 15, 1986, police officers and firefighters were summoned to a house fire in Daly City.
Laverne Johnson shared a home-related connection with Maria Victoria Holmes and her daughter Luisa Anna Castro through Castro, who was dating Johnson and had prepared dinner for him at her home on the night of the murders. Castro was a nightclub security guard and frequently boasted of her collection of gold jewelry.
Maria Victoria Holmes was a hotel manager who wore expensive jewelry and possessed an extensive collection of gold jewelry from Central America. Holmes shared her home with Castro.
The offence
Inside the house, police officers found the bodies of Maria Victoria Holmes, aged 52, and her daughter, Luisa Anna Castro, 32.
Evidence indicated that two fires—one upstairs and one downstairs—had been intentionally set, probably through the use of some flammable liquid.
Holmes was severely beaten and kicked. Her body showed extensive contusions and abrasions, and her face was swollen and bloody. An autopsy indicated she died from 12 or more blows to her head and face.
Castro’s body was burned beyond recognition. A large knife was found nearby. An autopsy determined that Castro died from strangulation, and a wire was found wrapped tightly around her neck.
Further investigation indicated that on the night of the murders someone murdered the two women, stole their jewelry, and set fire to their home in an apparent attempt to cover up the crimes.
Investigation
The investigation found that Johnson had been seen wearing, and later pawning, some gold jewelry. The jewelry could not positively be traced to the victims.
Investigators also determined that Holmes and Castro had jewelry, including an extensive collection of gold jewelry from Central America, and Castro had a collection of gold jewelry and frequently boasted of it.
A girlfriend of Johnson, Roshaun Fuller, told police that Johnson admitted assaulting the women and taking their jewelry.
Fuller said Johnson stated he "knocked out" Castro. Fuller reported that when Holmes came upstairs to investigate, Johnson knocked her down and kicked her in the head.
Arrest
Johnson was arrested after Roshaun Fuller told police that he had admitted assaulting the women and taking their jewelry.
Trial
Johnson denied killing the women.
At one point, Johnson told the interrogating officer that, "I probably did do it, but you are not going to get me to say I did do it."
Johnson also admitted to the investigating officers some facts regarding his relationship with Castro, including sharing dinner with her at her home on or about the night of the murders.
Johnson stated that he left the house after Castro had become intoxicated and fallen asleep.
Sentencing
Johnson was sentenced to death.
Other details
A large knife was found nearby Castro’s body. A wire was found wrapped tightly around Castro’s neck.
The autopsy indicated Holmes died from 12 or more blows to her head and face, and Castro died from strangulation.
Spotted an error, or have more information about this case?