A Richland Township man accused of strangling and stabbing his girlfriend in March 2015 has been found guilty of first and second degree murder.
Investigators say David Johnson killed Allison Vaughn in their home after she refused to allow him to withdraw money from her bank account to purchase drugs.
This was a non-jury trial. The judge announced his decision just after 2 p.m. Wednesday.
Tribune Democrat reporter Jocelyn Brumbaugh has been providing updates since the trial started last week.
Read Jocelyn’s full report here.
The death penalty face will begin Thursday in Cambria County Court.
#Breaking: Johnson found guilty of first-degree, second-degree murder.— Jocelyn Brumbaugh (@JBrumbaughTD) March 15, 2017
Allison Vaughn’s aunt, April Winfred-Daniels, just said through tears that this trial has been the family’s “final goodbye” to her.— Jocelyn Brumbaugh (@JBrumbaughTD) March 15, 2017
Prior to closings, Kiniry sided with an argument from the defense to deny the Commonwealth’s last witness via Skype. #JohnsonTrial— Jocelyn Brumbaugh (@JBrumbaughTD) March 15, 2017
#JohnsonTrial closing arguments have just ended. Judge Kiniry notified counsel he anticipates a decision by 2 p.m. #CambriaCounty— Jocelyn Brumbaugh (@JBrumbaughTD) March 15, 2017
Looks like Commonwealth’s last rebuttal witness will testify via Skype, since he’s in Scranton & can’t get here due to #WinterStormStella— Jocelyn Brumbaugh (@JBrumbaughTD) March 15, 2017
Commonwealth argued they have proven Johnson’s intent to kill; aren’t required to prove torture element until after verdict is rendered.— Jocelyn Brumbaugh (@JBrumbaughTD) March 14, 2017
Arguments for sufficiency of evidence just ended; defense asking judge to dismiss 1st degree murder, torture as cause to seek death penalty.— Jocelyn Brumbaugh (@JBrumbaughTD) March 14, 2017
#JohnsonTrial just wrapped up for the weekend- police finished testimony, audio from 2nd interview was played. Trial resumes Monday at 9 am.— Jocelyn Brumbaugh (@JBrumbaughTD) March 10, 2017
#JohnsonTrial afternoon break- second interview audio played, in which Johnson admits to sexually assaulting Vaughn post-mortem.— Jocelyn Brumbaugh (@JBrumbaughTD) March 10, 2017
Defense attorneys- Johnson purchased, used crack multiple times before/after murder, telling police, “My drug addiction took over.”— Jocelyn Brumbaugh (@JBrumbaughTD) March 10, 2017
Another interesting tidbit from #JohnsonTrial police interview: Johnson told officers his mom was murdered by her boyfriend when he was 8.— Jocelyn Brumbaugh (@JBrumbaughTD) March 10, 2017
Interview: Johnson said he planned to scare Vaughn with knife for bank pin, then duct tape so she could not leave, tell police.#JohnsonTrial— Jocelyn Brumbaugh (@JBrumbaughTD) March 10, 2017
Testimony this morning #JohnsonTrial: autopsy showed 1 of 3 stab wounds punctured Vaughn’s carotid artery; caused massive blood loss, death.— Jocelyn Brumbaugh (@JBrumbaughTD) March 10, 2017
Kahlena Carmichael #MountUnion supports victim Allison Vaughn at trial for man accused in her #murder @JBrumbaughTD https://t.co/BXmjOkt5yi pic.twitter.com/AqmHnaIkc2— Chip Minemyer (@Minemyerchip) March 9, 2017
#JohnsonTrial will resume at 9 a.m. tomorrow at the #CambriaCounty courthouse. Pathologists, PSP forensic experts expected to testify.— Jocelyn Brumbaugh (@JBrumbaughTD) March 9, 2017
#JohnsonTrial #CambriaCounty Coroner Jeff Lees also testified to confirm cause/manner of death, explained autopsy photos. @tribunedemocrat— Jocelyn Brumbaugh (@JBrumbaughTD) March 9, 2017
#JohnsonTrial has recessed for the day in #CambriaCounty. Most of the afternoon involved reviewing evidence from the scene.— Jocelyn Brumbaugh (@JBrumbaughTD) March 9, 2017
One officer said Johnson came to the station at 3 a.m., told him “I just killed my girlfriend” and was “high on crack” during the murder.— Jocelyn Brumbaugh (@JBrumbaughTD) March 9, 2017
Defense said case is not about “who done it,” and that Johnson had “diminished capacity” during murder due to consumption of drugs, alcohol.— Jocelyn Brumbaugh (@JBrumbaughTD) March 9, 2017
During opening arguments, prosecutors said Vaughn’s death was planned & asked judge to find Johnson guilty of 1st, 2nd degree murder.— Jocelyn Brumbaugh (@JBrumbaughTD) March 9, 2017
Mid-morning break during the David Johnson trial. More than 40 of victim Allison Vaughn’s family and friends are in attendance.— Jocelyn Brumbaugh (@JBrumbaughTD) March 9, 2017
