'Savage' Killer Who Stabbed Woman 40 Times Sentenced

WHEATON, MD — A Washington, DC, man convicted of fatally stabbing an elderly Wheaton, Maryland area woman 40 times when he broke into her home to steal her car keys has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder, authorities say. The killer was caught by police after he used the victim's debit card and called her bank to change the PIN number.

Kwasi Sadler, of Sheriff Road NE in Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty in May in the death of Linda Cheryl Johnson, 72. First responders found her body Aug. 3, 2016, in her residence in the 2700 block of Arcola Avenue. Sadler repeatedly stabbed and cut Johnson when she confronted him, then fled the house, leaving her to die from her wounds.

Montgomery County Police say Sadler stole Johnson's debit card and Toyota Prius, which helped them locate after his arrest. An autopsy found Johnston was stabbed and cut more than 40 times. Prosecutors described the attack as “savage” and “overkill.”

“This is the ultimate crime against seniors in our community,” said Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy after Sadler pleaded guilty to the murder charge and seven other counts, WTOP reports.

McCarthy said Wednesday thatSadler would be eligible for parole in 15 years, but that is unlikely, WTOP says. McCarthy said Judge Robert Greenberg called the murder “one of the most brutal he’d seen … and I don’t disagree.”

Sadler was reportedly friends with a tenant who had been living in the victim’s home until a few days before the murder. Police believe Johnson was killed on the morning of Aug. 1, 2016. A neighbor saw the victim on July 31, 2016, while another neighbor told investigators they saw an unknown black man outside Johnson’s home about 6:30 a.m. on Aug. 1, 2016.

Montgomery County Police were called to check on Johnson Aug. 3, 2016, after a family member was unable to reach her by phone and became concerned. Detectives say it appears a basement door at Johnson's home was forced open and there were signs of a struggle. The victim’s purse, wallet, car keys, and 2007 Toyota Prius were missing and were presumed to have been stolen.

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Johnson’s debit card was used starting Aug. 1, 2016, to make inexpensive purchases at six stores in Laurel, Washington, D.C., and Montgomery County. After Johnson's death, police say someone called her bank and tried to change the personal identification number for her debit card. Police say the phone number used to make the call to the bank belonged to Sadler.

Video surveillance from stores reportedly showed Sadler using the victim’s stolen debit card to shop, a video showed Sadler’s arm and hand appeared to be bandaged, perhaps from an injury suffered during an assault. Authorities say another video shows Sadler leaving a store after using the victim’s debit card and getting into a vehicle that appeared to be the Toyota Prius taken from the victim’s home.

During questioning, Sadler admitted killing Johnson, police say, and told detectives where to find the victim’s car.

»Photo of murder suspect Kwasi Sadler, courtesy of Montgomery County Police