Mom of 2 Was Pregnant with Twins When She Was Killed. Her Boyfriend Just Admitted to Pulling the Trigger

Darryl Tyson Jr., a 41-year-old man from Missouri, has pled guilty to three counts of second-degree murder relating to the deaths of his pregnant girlfriend, BreAnna Johnson, and her unborn twins. Tyson entered an Alford plea just before his trial was set to begin, acknowledging that the evidence put forth by prosecutors would likely lead to a conviction, even as he did not admit guilt. This decision comes in the wake of significant autopsy findings that revealed Johnson had been shot five times in the back, directly contradicting Tyson’s claims of acting in self-defence.

At the time of her death, 28-year-old Johnson was four months pregnant with twins. The tragic event occurred on October 31, 2024, when Johnson was found fatally shot in her home in Wentzville, Missouri. Her two young sons, who were just six months and 17 months old, were present in the house during the incident but fortunately escaped physical harm.

Tyson has been sentenced to a total of 30 years in prison for the murder charges and an additional seven years for a count of second-degree domestic assault. The sentences will run concurrently, meaning he will serve a maximum of 30 years. Under Missouri law, Tyson is required to serve at least 85% of his sentence before he can be considered for parole, which translates to over 25 years behind bars.

Initially, Tyson faced three counts of first-degree murder connected to the deaths of Johnson and her twins. However, he ultimately agreed to the plea involving three counts of second-degree murder, one for Johnson and one for each of the unborn children. The plea was largely influenced by the revelations from the autopsy, which contradicted his initial assertion that he shot her in self-defence while she faced him with a weapon.

Prosecutors played a key role in dismantling Tyson’s self-defence claim. St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph McCulloch noted that the trajectory of the bullets indicated that Johnson was either falling or on the ground when she was shot, thus undermining Tyson’s argument that she posed a threat at the time. “Those bullets were travelling upwards, which tells us that she was falling down or on the ground at the time that she received some of those shots,” McCulloch explained.

Tyson’s attorney, Raphael Morris, remarked that the autopsy findings significantly altered the direction of the case. Although Tyson initially communicated to investigators that he perceived Johnson as a threat, the evidence proved otherwise, prompting him to reconsider and ultimately enter a plea. “After much consideration, he decided entering a plea was in his best interest,” Morris commented.

Following the sentencing, Johnson’s mother, Janette Perry, expressed her intention to be present for the proceedings, feeling it necessary to witness Tyson’s accountability. “I wanted her to see. I wanted her to hear him say guilty. It wasn’t a jury that said he was guilty. He said he was guilty. That was justice for Bre’Anna,” she stated emotionally.

In the wake of this tragedy, Johnson’s family has begun advocating for “BreAnna’s Law,” a legislative proposal aimed at establishing a public registry for repeat domestic violence offenders. Such an initiative, they believe, could be a step towards preventing similar occurrences in the future and enhancing victim protection.

Johnson is survived by her two sons, who are currently in the care of her father. As the family navigates their loss, they are also pushing for greater awareness and change related to domestic violence issues in their community.

The case has shed light on vital aspects of domestic violence and its devastating impact, marking a significant chapter in the ongoing conversation about safety and justice for victims. Anyone affected by domestic violence is encouraged to contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline for support and resources, available 24/7 in over 170 languages.