United States of America

JOHNSON
Martha Ann

Active from 1977-1982 in Georgia, USA

DID YOU KNOW...

SIDS Fact

In 2019, there were about 1,250 deaths due to SIDS in the United States

Interesting Fact

SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants between 1 month and 1 year of age in the "developed" world

Sad Fact

Maternal filicide, or child murder by mothers, occurs more frequently in the United States than in other "developed" nations

THE DISPATCH

The Beginning

There are many types of maternal filicide. The four murdered children of Martha Ann Johnson don’t care.

Women kill less often than men. When they do, it is most often a lover or partner, followed by family member. Many female serial killers I have researched, killed children. There are mothers who batter, mothers who are mentally ill, mothers who commit neonaticide, retaliation, mothers who kill unwanted children and mercy killing. Johnson fits into mothers who kill unwanted children, but also fits into retaliation. She wasn’t necessarily retaliating against the children, but against their fathers.

Sometimes, women can easily get away with maternal filicide (mothers killing children). Child deaths are often misdiagnosed as SIDS or some other disorder. The killer mothers are often given more lenient sentences than killer fathers. It’s unlikely Johnson thought of any of this when she began killing.

The Mayo Clinic says, “Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the unexplained death, usually during sleep, of a seemingly healthy baby less than a year old. SIDS is sometimes known as crib death because the infants often die in their cribs.”

SIDS by its very definition means the cause of death cannot be determined. When an apparently loving mother shows up at hospital or calls 911 for help, no one wonders if the baby has been murdered.
At least, not the first time. Or second. Or third…

The Murders

James William "JW" Taylor

JW Taylor was 2 years old when he died on September 25, 1977. When he was taken to the hospital, doctors said it was SIDS. Two years old is outside the norm for SIDS, but that didn’t stop the doctors from making that determination. SIDS is now categorized under sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID) by the CDC.

Tibitha Janelle Bowen

On November 30, 1980, Johnson and her husband, Earl S. Bowen, argued. Bowen left the house. Tibitha Janell Bowen stopped breathing. Johnson called paramedics, but they can’t revive the 3-month-old child. Doctors attributed her death to SIDS.

Earl Wayne Bowen

In January 1981, Earl Wayne was allegedly found with a packet of rat poison. The three-year-old was rushed to hospital and survived. But he would soon begin to suffer from seizures. On February 12, he was again rushed to hospital, but died on the way. He was revived and remained at hospital. He was declared brain dead 3 days later and taken off life support.

After Earl’s funeral, Jennyann Wright told both her father and a Fulton County social worker she was scared to be at home. Despite a quick investigation, no evidence of foul play was found for any of the deaths, and Jennyann had to stay with her mother.

Jennyann Wright

At 11 years old, Jennyann was Johnson’s oldest surviving child. A few days before she died, she was taken to the doctor for a headache. On February 21, 1982, she is found dead on Johnson’s bed. Foam was coming out of her mouth. It was declared that she died of asphyxia. Police investigated the four children’s deaths, but without evidence, they dropped the investigation.

Arrest & Trial

Johnson Arrested for Jennyann

In December 1988, Clayton County police reopened the investigation into the deaths after inquiries from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Johnson was interviewed at length by police. On July 3, 1989, she was arrested for the murder of Jennyann. Johnson only faced trial for the murder of her eldest daughter, Jennyann. She was indicted in the murders of Tibitha and Earl but the cases did not go forward. She was not charged in JW’s death.

In an interview with police, Johnson admitted she killed Jennyann by taking her to bed and lying on her until the girl died. Johnson said that was also how she killed JW, but later recanted that admission.

Johnson Convicted

Johnson was convicted for the murder of Jennyann. She was immediately sentenced to life in prison, with parole eligibility.

Johnson’s Location

Johnson Released

In January 2020, Johnson got a tentative grant of release. She had been unsuccessful at getting parole 5 times. Jennyann’s half-brother, Shane Wright, had spoken out passionately against her release. He wanted Johnson carried out in a body bag, dumped in the woods, and set on fire. He then admitted, he wouldn’t want to waste the dirt. As of April, 2022, Johnson was not incarcerated in Georgia.

WHERE IT HAPPENED

An interactive map of approximately where things happened

BOOKS

Books about or including The Killer

Serial Killers And The Phenomenon Of Serial Murder: A Student Textbook by David Wilson, Elizabeth Yardley, Adam Lynes

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Waterside Press (July 8 2015)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 226 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1914603079
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1914603075

Serial Killers and the Phenomenon of Serial Murder examines and analyses some of the best known (as well as lesser) cases from English criminal history, ancient and modern.

It looks at the lifestyles, backgrounds and activities of those who become serial killers and identifies clear categories of individuals into which most serial killers fall.

Led by Professor David Wilson the authors are all experts and teachers concerning the ever-intriguing subject of serial killing: why, when and how it happens and whether it can be predicted. Taking some of the leading cases from English law and abroad they demonstrate the patterns that emerge in the lives and backgrounds of those who kill a number of times over a period.

The book is designed for those studying the topic at advanced level, whether as an academic discipline on one of the many courses now run by universities and colleges or as a private quest for understanding. It contains notes on key terms and explanations of topics such as co-activation, Munchausen syndrome, cooling-off period, psychopathy checklist, social construction, case linkage, family annihilation, activity space, rational choice theory, medicalisation and rendezvous discipline.

As the first textbook of its kind it will be an invaluable resource for teachers and students of serious crime.

Women Who Kill: Profiles of Female Serial Killers by Carol Anne Davis

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Allison & Busby; Revised ed. edition (April 10 2002)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 434 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0749005726
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0749005726

Why does a young woman lure teenagers into her car then participate in their horrific rape and torture? What makes a nurse lethally inject the healthy babies in her care?

Women, statistically, aren’t a violent breed… but the female of the species can be just as deadly as the male.
From the mass poisoner to the sexual sadist, from profit killings to crimes committed just for twisted thrills, Carol Anne Davis sets out to explore the dark and disturbing world of the female serial killer.

In depth analysis of individual cases, including new information from the minister who heard Myra Hindley`s confession, provides an invaluable insight into the psychology behind these atrocities.

PODCAST

Least Of These (2 parts)

Least of These (part 2)

THE STATS

Children Dead

Youngest Victim in Months

Oldest Victim in Years

Statistical table for Martha Ann Johnson

Killer Name	JOHNSON, Martha Ann
Killer AKA	Martha Ann Bowen
Gender	F
Suspected Only	Yes
Arrest Date	July 3, 1989
Conviction Date	May 5, 1990
Sentence	Life term
Birth Location	Georgia USA
Birth Date	, 1955
Status	Alive or Unknown
Height	155
Sexual Preference	straight
Marital Status	Remarried
Number of Children	4 but all died
Killer Type	Family Annihilator, Stationary
comment1	Admitted killing 2 children, but later denied one
Total Dead Victims	4
Victims (Suspected)	2
Victims (Confessed)	2
Victims (Convicted)	1
Victim Gender	Various
Victim Race	White
Victim Age	3 months, 2, 3, 11
Victim Type	own children
Method of Killing	poison
Body - Left, Not Hidden	Yes

Killer Rating

 2/5

RESOURCES

Last updated on 5 May 2022 by E. Kelly Hemingway