HARRISBURG, PA — Joseph Sarmiento, 40, of New York, was sentenced on Thursday, May 1, to 20 to 40 years in prison for the 2021 killing of 41-year-old Helena Johnson. The sentence, handed down by a Luzerne County judge, represents the maximum penalty for the third-degree murder conviction returned in February after Sarmiento was found guilty but mentally ill.
Helena Johnson, a Massachusetts resident, was discovered deceased on June 6, 2021, in a motel room at the Red Carpet Inn in Hazle Township, Pennsylvania. Investigators later determined she had suffered blunt force trauma from a beating. Surveillance evidence showed Sarmiento and Johnson entered the motel room together on June 4, 2021, but Sarmiento exited alone two hours later. He did not return until approximately 15 hours later, at which point he called 911, claiming to have found Johnson dead in the bathtub.
A forensic pathologist testified that Johnson was struck at least 10 times, and there was additional evidence of strangulation. Prosecutors argued these findings clearly demonstrated the brutal nature of the crime.
Attorney General Dave Sunday addressed the outcome, stating, “This defendant’s attempts to avoid accountability for the brutal killing of Miss Johnson ended today with this decades-long prison sentence. We hope this verdict and sentence provide a sense of solace for the people who loved her and miss her every day.”
The court proceedings included emotional impact statements, including a letter from Johnson’s sister, Karen, recounting fond memories of her sibling. “I remember her laugh, smile, and making jokes. I’ll never get back the times we went on vacation, dinner, concerts and how much fun we had,” the letter read.
The case was prosecuted by Chief Deputy Attorney General Brian Zarallo, with Pennsylvania State Police leading the investigation.
This sentencing highlights the justice system’s role in addressing violent crimes and underlines the critical importance of holding offenders accountable to provide closure and reassurance to victims’ families and communities.
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