Tyrone Terrell Johnson was accused of killing Stephanie Willis and her 10-year-old son, Ricky, who were found dead in their Tampa, Florida apartment that they shared with Johnson in 2018. In the interrogation video, Johnson cried hysterically as detectives tried to calm him down. They struggled to understand what he was saying about the day of the murders.
On the day of the killings, 42-year-old Johnson called 911 claiming he was being attacked by Willis. Deputies responded to 4302 Mariners Cove Court in Tampa before 7 p.m. and found the victims inside the apartment where the three lived.
Johnson’s trial lasted just more than a week. The jury was shown dramatic video of Johnson’s interrogation after being arrested. They were also shown images of the scene, where Ricky and his mother’s bodies were found next to each other on the floor.
Johnson had initially claimed he shot Stephanie and Ryon in self-defense. But, while examining the evidence, detectives ultimately determined Johnson was not under attack.
“Instead, detectives determined that Johnson and his girlfriend got into an argument over what the family would watch on TV, and during that confrontation, Johnson shot her multiple times,” the state attorney’s office wrote in a statement. “As this nightmare was unfolding, his girlfriend’s 10-year-old son tried to hide from Johnson. Terrified, he crawled under his bed to keep from being found.”
Prosecutors say Johnson found Ryon’s hiding spot and shot him repeatedly.
Johnson moved Ryon and Stephanie’s bodies, investigators added, so he could “stage the scene” for his 911 call and false claim that he was acting in self-defense.
The horrific events of October 21, 2018, all began with an argument over what to watch on TV.
“I changed the TV to football,” he told detectives.
Johnson continued to break down as he claimed the fight turned personal when Stephanie blamed him for his son’s recent suicide.
“She said, ‘That’s why my son killed himself like a little [expletive] because you’re a [expletive],’” recalled Johnson.
Johnson told investigators that he called his father for help and he heard some of the confrontation.
During the interview, Johnson claimed the boy ran into the master bedroom.
“He said, ‘You hurt my mommy?'” remembered Johnson.
But prosecutor John Terry said the evidence shows something else. Terry said the frightened 10-year-old hid under his bed and was hunted down by Johnson.
“We have shell casings. We have blood. We have holes in the wall in the little boy’s room,” argued Terry.
Johnson’s public defender, Jennifer Spradley, said Willis had been drinking that day, with an argument over changing the TV channel turning to personal insults, including ones about Johnson’s son’s suicide.
Johnson’s attorney claimed Stephanie said, “I see why your son killed himself like a [expletive] because you’re a little [expletive].”
After he was convicted, the jury heard what life has been like for the victims’ families since that day.
“The feeling of grief we feel is never-ending, every minute of every day,” said Ricky’s aunt Denise.
“We will never see him grow up, never see who he would have become,” offered his grandmother.
Johnson’s defense argued their client should get life – not death – for the murders, pointing to distress from his son’s suicide in 2017, along with PTSD from his time in the military.
“He went through some mental anguish in the Army,” said Johnson’s father.
“He did not come out of the Army the same person?” asked Kane.
“Oh no,” came the reply.
“The day the defendant chose to shoot and kill my oldest daughter, and hunt down, torture and brutally murder my only biological grandson, part of me died. Not only did he take away my family, he took away my future generations,” wrote Robert Hewitt, Stephanie’s father and Ryon’s grandfather, in a statement released by prosecutors.
“I am thankful for the decision in this case,” Hewitt added. “After three years, we have received justice for Stephanie and Ryon.”
Hewitt told the state attorney’s office the end of the trial will allow him to finally process his grief.
“The defendant’s relatives can show all the emotions they want to, but I, the father and grandfather of the victims, have to sit and hold my emotions in — as I hear of the torture my daughter and grandson endured,” Hewitt told prosecutors.
Stephanie’s stepmother, Amber Hewitt, has maintained that the family wanted Johnson sentenced to death.
“We, the family of Stephanie and Ryon, DO feel he deserves the death penalty. Prison is too good for him,” she told local news in a statement on November 7. “He murdered our daughter and grandson for absolutely no reason. And we pray the jury finds him guilty of first-degree murder and gives the sentence of death for the crimes he committed.”
The prosecution pointed to Ryon’s young age and heinousness of the crimes as reasons why the jurors should favor the death penalty.
A jury unanimously recommended for Johnson to be sentenced to death on November 17, 2021.
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