Los Angeles, California – Detectives in Los Angeles have linked the tragic deaths of an infant in Culver City and a man in Woodlands Hills to a single suspect, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The suspect, identified as 34-year-old Danielle Cherakiyah Johnson, is believed to be the mother of the child and the girlfriend of the man who lost his life. The grim chain of events unfolded with a deadly stabbing in Woodland Hills and culminated in a fatal crash in Redondo Beach.
The violence started early in the morning when Johnson allegedly stabbed her boyfriend, Jaelen Allen Chaney, to death following a heated argument in Woodland Hills. Neighbors reported hearing screams coming from the couple’s apartment, prompting a call to 911. Chaney’s lifeless body was discovered, leading authorities on a tragic discovery of even more devastating events.
Johnson, accompanied by her two children, drove onto the I-405 Freeway near Centinela Avenue in Culver City, where the situation took a horrific turn. California Highway Patrol officers found the two girls – an 8-month-old infant and a 9-year-old – on the side of the freeway. Tragically, the baby passed away at the scene, while the older sibling sustained moderate injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment.
As the investigation unfolded, detectives revealed that the deadly incidents were connected to a single-car crash in Redondo Beach that claimed the life of Danielle Cherakiyah Johnson. Her escape from the murder scene allegedly involved throwing the minors out of a moving vehicle on the freeway before meeting a fatal end in the crash. The surviving child provided vital information to investigators about the harrowing series of events that transpired.
Authorities disclosed that Johnson and Chaney had been in a relationship for about three years and were cohabitating. Despite ongoing divorce proceedings with another individual, Johnson was still legally married. LAPD investigators confirmed no prior reports of domestic violence between the couple during their time together. The collaboration between LAPD, CHP, and Redondo Beach Police Department was instrumental in piecing together the tragic puzzle.
Family members mourned the loss of Chaney, a United States Air Force veteran whose connection to the deceased infant remains unclear. The investigation is ongoing, urging anyone with pertinent information to contact the authorities at (323) 644-9550. Through a collective effort of law enforcement agencies, a clearer picture of the tragic events that unfolded in different locations across LA is emerging, shedding light on a somber tale of violence and loss.