Vet Tech Found Guilty In 2018 UWS Neighbor Slay: DA

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — A Manhattan jury has found a woman guilty of stabbing her Upper West Side neighbor to death in 2018, officials said.

The verdict was reached on Monday after a two-week long trial and resulted in Anya Johnston being found guilty of one count of second degree murder for the killing of neighbor, Susan Trott.

“Today, a jury found Anya Johnston guilty of the gruesome, fatal stabbing of her elderly neighbor Susan Trott, a vibrant and talented woman who was beloved by her family and friends,” said District Attorney Alvin Bragg on Monday.

“Ms. Johnston’s heinous and calculated actions reflected a blatant disregard for Ms. Trott’s life, as she left her body to decompose for nearly four days after the stabbing," Bragg said. "I hope the accountability delivered by today’s guilty verdict can provide comfort to Ms. Trott’s loved ones, who continue to heal from the deep trauma her death has caused."

Trott, 70, was killed after her downstairs neighbor, Johnston, then 24, stabbed her in the back and neck with a knife inside her Upper West Side apartment in October, 2018.

Police found Trott's body days later, only after a business associate called for a wellness check.

During the trial, Johnston's defense team attempted an insanity plea, with their expert claiming she likely suffered from schizoaffective disorder, according to West Side Rag.

Prosecutors disagreed and pointed to how Johnston, who has a long history of treatment for mental illness, was treated at the Mount Sinai West emergency room as a suicide risk just hours after the slaying and was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, the West Side Rag reported.

To learn more details about the trial, click here to read the West Side Rag's extensive write up.