Baltimore woman charged with death of niece and nephew found in truck during traffic stop

A Baltimore-area woman was held without bail on Friday after being charged with the deaths of her young niece and nephew after police said they were found in a vehicle she was driving.

Nicole M. Johnson, 33, has been charged with multiple counts of child abuse causing death, child abuse causing serious injury, failure to report the death of a child and disposing of ‘a body in an unauthorized location, according to court records.

The Baltimore County Public Defender’s Office, responsible for representing her, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Associated Press reported Johnson had temporary custody of the children.

Baltimore County Police said in a statement that the bodies of siblings Joshlyn Johnson, 7, and Larry O’Neil, 5, were found in a vehicle driven by Johnson during a roadside check in the ‘Essex unincorporated Wednesday night.

The bodies were taken away by the county medical examiner and Johnson was taken into custody, police said.

The reason for the stop was not given, but NBC affiliate WBAL of Baltimore reported Johnson was suspected of speeding.

The station said the children may have been malnourished; their bodies were seriously inadequate. The bodies were also breaking down, WBAL said.

County Director Johnny Olszewski tweeted, “The heinous details of this heartbreaking incident remain difficult to understand.”

Baltimore County Police Chief Melissa Hyatt said in a statement Friday: “I am grateful that the harrowing details of this matter were fully and quickly uncovered, which brought this tragedy to a swift end.” .

Hyatt described the circumstances as “the untold deaths of two innocent children”.

The public prosecutor’s office has joined the investigation, police said.

A preliminary hearing for Johnson was scheduled for August 27.