Columbus Woman Pleads Guilty in the Death of Girlfriend’s 8-Year-Old Son

Posted on 6/5/2025

Defendant: Johnna Lowe

A Columbus woman charged in the death of her girlfriend’s 8-year-old son has pleaded guilty to the charges of murder and gross abuse of a corpse.
 
Following the recommendation of the prosecutors, a judge sentenced Johnna Lowe, 34, to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 15 years, the maximum sentence for a murder conviction. The 12-month sentence for gross abuse of a corpse will run concurrent with the sentence for murder.
 
Lowe was initially charged with murder, endangering children, felonious assault, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse in connection with the death of Martonio Wilder.
 
She turned herself into police June 29, 2024, and has been held in the Franklin County Jail on a $1.25 million bond. Martonio’s mother, Lashanda Wilder, faces the same charges and is being held on a $2 million bond.
 
Case Background
 
Just after noon on June 28, 2024, Columbus Police were called to the 1000 block of Olmstead Avenue on the report of a missing child, 8-year-old Martonio Wilder.
 
Martonio’s mother, Lashanda Wilder, told officers she’d last seen the boy when she put him to bed the previous night around 9:30 p.m., and she feared he had run away.
 
After hours of searching the neighborhood, including by police helicopter and cadaver dog, at around 6:20 p.m. police found Martonio’s body hidden in a trash bag in the small attic of his home. By then, Lowe, Wilder and two other children had left the house — prompting an Amber Alert for the children, who were later found safe with Lowe’s mother.
 
A subsequent autopsy showed that Martonio had died of asphyxia by neck compression. It also revealed a history of abuse: Martonio had signs of blunt force trauma, including multiple bruises and cuts to his face and head. He was seriously malnourished and dehydrated — his eyes and abdomen were sunken, and his pelvis, collarbone, ribs and kneecaps were clearly visible through his skin. He weighed just 35 pounds.
 
Wilder’s next hearing is set for July 15.