New details are emerging in the death of a Maricopa woman.
Angela Russo left her home in Maricopa on April 19 and was not seen or heard from by family or friends.
Russo was believed to be in contact with Lashawn Johnson and arranged to meet up with him at his apartment near 54th Avenue and Indian School Road.
According to court paperwork, Russo’s phone was last active in the area of the apartment complex and then activity stopped.
Officials from the Maricopa Police Department followed up on information which led them to the apartment complex where they were able to contact Lashawn Johnson and his live-in girlfriend.
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Court documents indicate Johnson's girlfriend guided detectives to a desert area in Tonopah where a 4-door sedan was destroyed by fire. The vehicle matched the description of the vehicle driven by Russo.
Detectives searched the area and found a grave near the burned sedan.
Maricopa Police contact the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office to assume the investigation and MCSO confirmed the grave contained a body.
MCSO detectives were able to find physical characteristics that matched Russo.
During an interview with Johnson's girlfriend, MCSO detectives learned she picked up Johnson and drove him to Tonopah on April 20. Johnson also took her to the area of the burned sedan and grave on May 12 and looked at the scene.
The woman told MCSO she had no involvement or knowledge of the homicide.
MCSO served a search warrant at the couple's apartment and found evidence of a kidnapping and homicide. Evidence was also found that Russo was attacked in the kitchen and appeared to have been trapped in a corner.
Johnson admitted to knowing Russo and talking with her via text message. He also said Russo was at his house on April 19 and he was in the area of the burned sedan and body.
Johnson told detectives “his life was over” and “he f***ed up and made a mistake.” He also said he would pray for Russo’s family and was “sorry for their loss.”
The cause of death has been found as unknown at this time.
