John Jefferson
Inset left: Denise Johnson (Allegheny County Jail). Inset right: Ayla Miller (GoFundMe). Background: The apartment complex where Miller was killed (Google Maps).
A Pennsylvania woman is behind bars after she brutally, prolongedly beat her 3-year-old granddaughter “for not listening” and then, literally, covered up the abuse until the child slowly died some two days later, finally succumbing to her injuries over the Labor Day weekend, police in the Keystone State say.
Denise Johnson, 56, stands accused of one count of criminal homicide in the first degree, three counts of aggravated assault, as well as one count each of endangering the welfare of children, abuse of a corpse, and corruption of minors, according to a criminal complaint and affidavit of probable cause obtained by Law&Crime.
The violence that took the life of Ayla Lyric-Ann Miller, 3, was witnessed by one of the defendant’s other grandchildren, police say. And that other child was allegedly enlisted by their grandmother to provide one of the “implements” used in the fatal attack.
Content warning: extreme child abuse.
On Sunday, Sept. 1, Ayla was found dead in bed, wearing a pink and blue skirt and gray tights at the Allegheny Commons apartments in Pittsburgh, according to the affidavit.
The left side of her face showed significant bruising along her cheekbone, just under her eye, and more bruises near her ear, according to the court document. The girl had a visible injury near her left hip bone as well. On the right side of her body, bruises were visible from her ear to near her chest. The girl’s right forearm — from her elbow to her hand — was also covered in bruises. On her right ankle, she had an infected wound; on her left ankle, a cigarette burn. There was also a noted injury, a scratch or a scar, on her sternum.
Ayla’s uncle called 911 that day. She was found cold to the touch, with blood on the bed, and pronounced deceased at 11:46 a.m.
The investigation moved forward quickly.
Investigators learned the girl had been living with her grandmother for roughly one-and-a-half months because her mother’s electricity had been turned off, prompting a search for a new permanent residence.
A little after 2:20 p.m., police texted the absent grandmother.
Sometime after that, the defendant’s sister was taken to police headquarters to give a statement, according to the affidavit. She told investigators about a “nine-minute conversation” just before 2:30 p.m. wherein Johnson began by apologizing. After that, Johnson admitted what she had done, according to the court document.
“[The sister] stated that Johnson advised that approximately two days earlier Johnson told her that she punched the victim in the face and that Ayla Miller fell backwards into a coffee table and hit her head really hard,” the affidavit reads. “[The sister] stated that Johnson then picked Miller up off the ground and didn’t know what to do. [The sister] then stated that Johnson then stated she placed Ayla Miller into a bed for the next few days until the death of Ayla Miller was discovered.”
Following that alleged admission, Johnson kept apologizing and repeating that she did not know what to do, according to the court document. The defendant’s sister asked why she didn’t call 911; Johnson allegedly replied that she was scared. In the end, Johnson’s sister appears to have convinced her to contact law enforcement.
As the hours passed, the number identified as Johnson’s texted police back, but hesitantly, a couple of times. Johnson allegedly asked who was texting her and acknowledged that she would need to turn herself in.
At 4:19 p.m., a detective received the following text message:
Ok I’ll ready soon I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to hurt her I truly didn’t when I knew she was hurt I beat her butt for not listening and she fell into my table so hard. She hit her head and her back. I then told her to stand in corner but she couldn’t she [kept] falling down I thought she was doing it because she was tired and being stubborn I then told jr my other Gran to run her bath water. I got her in the tub and went in my room she takes her own bath I [go] back [in] there shes under water but she was still breathing I dried her layed her down she never woke up after 2days I’m got really scared I wanted [to] tell someone but was to scared. I’m sorry I know I shouldn’t gotten help for her she was already gone I just been crying not eating scared numb guilty I’m so sorry I didn’t mean it I honesty truly didn’t.
Then, the detective asked the defendant where she was — but she allegedly stopped responding. She was finally arrested on Monday.
Johnson’s other grandchild was also interviewed by investigators. During that structured sit-down, the child allegedly said that on the day of the fatal beating, Johnson hit their cousin repeatedly “with a large wood stick” to the point that “Ayla could not move anymore because of the beating.”
During the beating, Ayla’s nose and head began to bleed, according to the affidavit. Some of the blood flowed, and some of the blood dried as the prolonged attack continued, the child said. The assault occurred in Johnson’s bedroom, the other grandchild allegedly told investigators. And, over the course of the incident, the defendant allegedly used “several other implements to beat Ayla.”
“[The grandchild] stated that grandma then told [them] to get a belt for her to continue the assault,” the court document reads. “[The grandchild] retrieved the belt for grandma upon her request and grandma continued the assault on Ayla.”
A GoFundMe is raising money for the child’s funeral.
“Ayla was taken way too soon,” the online fundraiser reads. “She loved Cocomelon and Minnie Mouse. Her smile would lighten up any room. Ayla will truly be missed; her short time on earth impacted a lot of lives. Anything will be greatly appreciated.”
The defendant is currently being detained in the Allegheny County Jail without bail. She is next slated to appear in court on Sept. 13.
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