Leonard Johnson Charged In St. Louis Murder Of Valedictorian Sarah Billingsley-Walker

[Rothase2]

This is one of the lead stories around here parts right now...
Teen dating domestic violence turned deadly, but the victim was an exceptional kid. She was valedictorian of her class and had a full scholarship to a four year college. She graduated from Vashon High School- one of the toughest schools, in one of the toughest neighborhoods, in the region. So few of those kids even make it through high school at all, much less to college, but this girl looked like she might make it out of the decaying morass that is North St. Louis City... until some jack-off dumbass boyfriend dragged her down in it and strangled her. People, teenagers even, die in North City almost every day- gang violence, drugs, other afflictions of neglect and poverty, but not like this. So here she is on the evening news, not for being Homecoming Queen (which she was) or having a wall full of certificates and accomplishments in her mom's living room (which she had), but for being tragically dead. RIP Sarah.

ST. LOUIS (KMOV)—Police have charged a 17-year-old man after the death of a Vashon High School co-valedictorian was ruled a homicide.

Officers said they responded to a home in the 3700 block of N. 21st Street around 9:45 p.m. Monday and found Sarah Billingsley-Walker, 18, dead.

Officers said they believe she died between 12 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Leonard Antjuan Johnson has been charged with first degree murder.

Authorities initially said there were no obvious signs of trauma to her body, but an autopsy determined she was strangled.

Billingsley-Walker was named this year’s homecoming queen at Vashon. She was also a member of the National Honor Society and a part of the school’s dance team.

Family members have taken the death of such a promising young woman very hard.

“She was the best kid that a person could ever have. She was smart and good and they don’t come no better,” said her father, Ronnie Brown.

Fellow students and teachers agree.

“When you lose a student who’s been at the school for nearly four years, was very involved at the school, that affects the students of course, but it’s very hard on the staff as well,” said St. Louis Public Schools Spokesperson Patrick Wallace.

Counselors were at Vashon on Tuesday to help students deal with their grief.

The article below is longer, with more information.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/c...a4bcf6878.html

[LadyCygnet]

"At first I thought he could be a nice boy, but after a while, I saw a sadness in my daughter’s eyes," said her mother, Lavaughn Walker. "I told her to leave him alone and that, ‘He will pull you down.’ I told her some smiles are wolves’ smiles."

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/c...#ixzz1pD5wugUS

Her mama was right. She had a bright future and a beautiful smile, and that jealous, nasty, immature boy pulled her down to her grave. I hope that Johnson is found guilty and spends the rest of his miserable life at the Bonne Terre facility.

[Rothase2]

Another arrest- Cops are going all out on this one.

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A woman is charged with helping her boyfriend's teenage son conceal the strangulation death of Vashon High School's co-valedictorian and homecoming queen.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that 34-year-old Tina Blackwell was charged Friday with tampering with physical evidence and hindering prosecution.
Authorities say Leonard Johnson was the sometimes boyfriend of 18-year-old Sarah Billingsley-Walker. She was found dead last month at a home, and Johnson has been charged in the killing.
Police said Blackwell went to Johnson's home while the body was inside and disposed of the victim's belongings, including a laptop computer and clothing.
Court documents say she and two relatives of Johnson drove him to another home in St. Louis to hide him from the police. No attorney is listed for Blackwell in online court records.

From KMOV's website

[CbabyRKO]

Well let's just make this a family affair why don't we. My son would just have to be shit outta luck if he ever did something like this. Aint no way in hell I'd cover for his ass. Sorry but you do the crime, you do the time. And I'll be damned if I'm gonna do it with you.