Murder Charges in Deaths of Woman, Newborn

A 31-year-old man faces murder charges in the fatal shooting of a pregnant woman and the death of her baby, who was delivered but died.

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office reports that Everrick Houston was charged in connection to the 2009 killing of Crystal Johnson.  

The victim was pregnant and the baby was delivered but died at All Children’s Hospital hours after the shooting. 

The incident occurred on July 12, 2009, at Desoto Village Apartments, 3810 5th St. E., Bradenton.

Houston was originally charged with Murder in 2009, but the charges were dropped after a judge ruled a piece of evidence was inadmissible.  

Detectives were able to gather additional evidence connecting Houston to the crime scene and he was indicted in April 2013.

At the time of his first arrest, Houston was also facing federal drug charges and was eventually convicted and sent to federal prison.   

He was transported to the Manatee County Jail this week to face the murder charges.  

A second defendant, Gregory Kennon, was convicted on two counts of Murder in 2012.