Goodrich Street Woman Charged in Boyfriend's Murder

A Hamden man is dead and his live-in girlfriend charged with his murder after she allegedly stabbed him in the chest Saturday afternoon.

Police got the report of the stabbing at about 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon at 233 Goodrich St., according to Lt. Timothy Wydra. There, Officer Stephen Baris found Lavern Brown, 44, suffering from a stab wound, Wydra said. Hamden Fire Department personnel arrived and treated Brown, he said.

Police got a tip that a woman involved in the incident had taken off on foot, Wydra said, and after searching the area, Officer Shawn Nutcher found Rita Renee Johnson, who lived with Brown, on Columbus Street, Wydra said.

Officer Nutcher was able to take Johnson into custody, he said

Brown was transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery, Wydra said, but was pronounced dead a short time later.

Johnson,51, was charged with murder. She is being held on 500,000.00 bond and will appear in Meriden Superior Court on Monday.

The Hamden Police Department Major Crimes Unit is continuing the investigation, Wydra said, and the incident is being investigated as domestic violence.