Prosecutors seek death penalty for SW Florida man accused of killing mom

Prosecutors have filed paperwork indicating they will seek the death penalty against a Cape Coral man accused of killing his mother

Devin Johnson, 28, faces charges of capital first-degree murder; aggravated abuse of an elderly or disabled adult; fleeing and eluding; and driving while his license was suspended.

Court records show that Assistant State Attorney Andreas Gardiner on Jan. 20 filed the state's intent to seek death against Johnson.

When Johnson's siblings could not reach their mother, they headed to her Cape Coral home and followed bloody footprints to her body, officials said.

The investigation led to the arrest of their brother as he attempted to flee the country, Chief Anthony Sizemore said at a news conference Sept. 18, two days after the discovery.

Authorities identified the victim as Rosemary Johnson, 69, Devin Jonson's mother. Officials said Rosemary Johnson suffered a "significant number of stab wounds" to her head and neck.

As authorities reviewed security footage, they noticed Devin Johnson left the home in the 4300 block of Jacaranda Parkway West just before police arrived.

With an alert sent out across Southwest Florida, authorities arrested Devin Johnson after a violence-filled traffic stop in North Naples.

According to an arrest affidavit from the Collier County Sheriff's Office, on Sept. 16, police told them they were after Johnson in connection with the slaying.

Devin Johnson was driving south on U.S. 41 when authorities spotted him near North Naples, the report says.

According to authorities, Devin Johnson exited his Toyota Camry on U.S. 41 near Immokalee Road, in North Naples.

Collier County deputies said Devin Johnson ran and attempted to hop a fence into a residential neighborhood.

Devin Johnson is next due in court May 19 for a case management conference.

Source: news-press.com, Tomas Rodriguez, March 4, 2026

"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted."

— Oscar Wilde

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