The boyfriend of a 22-year-old woman who was found dismembered in her New York City apartment, with her body parts stuffed into two suitcases, has been arrested in her grisly death.
Justin Williams, 24, was arrested Monday and arraigned on charges of second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced.
The remains of his girlfriend, D’Asia Johnson, 22, were found in her apartment on Linwood Avenue in East New York on Sept. 21 after officers were called to her sixth-floor apartment for a wellness check and found her remains in two suitcases.
Johnson went home after work on Aug. 21 “and never exited the apartment again,” Gonzalez said.
According to the investigation, Williams, who had been dating Johnson for several years, stabbed her nine times early Aug. 22 — five times to the front of her torso and four times in the back.
He then dismembered her body and concealed the remains in the two suitcases, authorities alleged.
“He allegedly resided in the apartment for a month and used towels and cleaning products to mask the smell,” the district attorney's statement said.
Williams is alleged to have fled the apartment after a wellness check by building personnel who became concerned after they hadn’t seen Johnson for some time. The building personnel called police.
At his arraignment Monday, Williams was ordered to be held without bail and to return to court on Jan. 25.
If he is convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.
NBC News has asked his listed attorney for comment.
“This defendant is accused of the horrific murder and dismemberment of his former girlfriend. While we can’t erase the tragic and cruel death of D’Asia Johnson, we are fully committed to bringing this defendant to justice," Gonzalez said in a statement. "I hope that this prosecution brings a measure of solace to D’Asia’s family and friends."