ROCKINGHAM — The mother of a Richmond Senior High School student who died days after being found unresponsive is charged with an open count of murder.
Richmond County Jail records show 44-year-old Michelle Lee Johnson was booked at 12:06 p.m. Friday. She is being held without bond. A photo was not immediately available.
Records show she is charged by the Rockingham Police Department.
Last week, the department charged 49-year-old Joseph Ray Carroll with first-degree murder. He is being held without bond. Online court records show Carroll has a court appearance scheduled for March 15.
Officers responded to 907 Biggs Blvd. on Jan. 20 in reference to an unresponsive teenage male identified as Casey Johnson, according to a statement issued Feb. 11, following Carroll’s arrest. Officers reportedly attempted life-saving measures until EMS arrived on scene.
Casey Johnson, 15, was taken to UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill, where his obituary shows he died on Jan. 23. Police say an investigation determined his death was a homicide.
A GoFundMe page was set up prior to Casey Johnson’s death to raise money for medical expenses.
According to the description, Casey Johnson “had a terrible accident and sustained a traumatic brain injury” and was on life support. All funds were said to go directly to his mother, a nurse and Army veteran, according to the page.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Earlier this week, Richmond Senior High School honored Casey Johnson and two other students who died this school year — Jalen David and Jacob Hughes — with a drive-thru memorial on campus.
