111 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
White Plains, NY 10601
Tel: (914) 995-3586
Fax: (914) 995-2116

 

April 6, 2015 -- Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced that Clarence Thomas (DOB 03/21/82) of 121 Ludlow Street, Yonkers, New York pled guilty today to:

  • one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a class "C" Felony,

"These parents, the father by his reckless actions and the mother by her denial of any abuse, tragically led to the death of their six month old daughter. A parent's primary job is the care and protection of their children and in this case their inability to do so led to this terrible outcome. Thus, it now becomes incumbent on society and the criminal justice system to make sure that they are held accountable," said District Attorney Janet DiFiore.

On Sept. 18, 2014, Kayan Johns (DOB 07/24/81) of 3924 Wilder Avenue, Bronx, New York, pled guilty to:

  • one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class "A" Misdemeanor.

relating to the death of their six-month-old daughter, Natalia Johns.

Johns was sentenced to county jail.

On March 14, 2013 at approximately 6 a.m., Kayan Johns called 911 stating that her infant daughter, Natalia, had stopped breathing.

At the time medical personnel arrived at the house, the infant had no pulse. She was removed to St. Joseph's Medical Center in Yonkers and pronounced dead at 7:14 a.m.

The Westchester County Medical Examiner's Office conducted an autopsy that revealed numerous injuries consistent with both old and new trauma to the child's head.
The father, Clarence Thomas, was questioned by Yonkers detectives, giving various accounts of how the child could have sustained the numerous injuries.

The mother, Kayan Johns had noticed various bruising and other injuries on the infant but did not report it to authorities or try to get medical attention.

Additionally, Kayan Johns continued to allow the defendant to be the primary caretaker of the deceased and her other children while she worked.

Sentencing will be on May 12, 2015.

Thomas faces a maximum of 15 years in state prison.

Second Deputy District Attorney Patricia Murphy of the Superior Court Trial Division and Assistant District Attorney Mary Clark-DiRusso of the Special Prosecutions Division are prosecuting the case.

 

Clarence Thomas

Kayan Johns

Clarence Thomas Kayan Johns