Ohio Woman Sentenced to Life in Prison for Role in Murder of 8-Year-Old Boy

Johnna Lowe, 24, pleaded guilty in Franklin County Common Pleas Court to one count of murder and one count of gross abuse of a corpse in connection with the death of 8-year-old Martonio Wilder. She was sentenced on Thursday.

The case began on June 28, 2024, when Martonio’s mother, LaShanda Delores Wilder, 33, reported him missing from their home on Olmstead Avenue in Columbus’s Milo-Grogan neighborhood.

An Amber Alert was briefly issued but soon canceled. During the investigation, police discovered Martonio’s body hidden in a trash bag inside a sleeping bag in the home’s attic.

According to investigators, both women fled the residence shortly after the missing persons report was filed. When officers arrived with a cadaver dog, Wilder allegedly became uncooperative and refused to allow the dog inside. She then left with Lowe and her two other children.

Authorities later obtained a search warrant and found the child’s remains, prompting both women to turn themselves in the following day.

An autopsy determined that Martonio died from asphyxia due to anterior neck compression, and the coroner classified the death as a homicide.

The medical examiner also documented signs of prolonged abuse, including blunt force trauma to the head, severe malnutrition and dehydration. At the time of his death, Martonio weighed just 35 pounds and measured 49 inches in height. He showed significant muscle loss, suggesting extended neglect.

Prosecutors alleged that Martonio was subjected to a pattern of abuse over time. According to courtroom testimony, he was frequently confined in a closet without food, beaten and choked with an extension cord.

Lowe reportedly admitted that two days before his death, she beat the child with a crutch and locked him in a coat closet as part of what she described as “unusual punishments.”

Family members expressed their grief and frustration following the sentencing. “He was full of life. He was so bright. He loved everybody,” Martonio’s great-aunt said. A cousin added, “He was always in the corner while the others played. What did he do? Steal food? He was probably just hungry.”

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Despite clear warning signs, child welfare authorities did not intervene in time. Franklin County Children’s Services had been involved with the family since May 2022 and reportedly offered support services to Wilder. Law enforcement had also visited the home at least 13 times in the 18 months leading up to the child’s death.

As part of her plea agreement, Lowe received credit for 342 days already served in pre-trial detention. Wilder is scheduled to appear in court on July 15.