Georgia man gets life sentence for murder of pregnant girlfriend and 30-week preborn son

A Georgia man who murdered his pregnant girlfriend, their preborn child, and her uncle has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, plus 30 years, for his crimes. Kristopher Martin Johnson, 34, was convicted of malice murder, feticide, exploitation and intimidation of a disabled adult, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.

During the Feb. 6 sentencing hearing, the court designated Johnson as “guilty but mentally ill,” meaning the Georgia Department of Corrections will be responsible for his mental health care while he serves his sentence. However, officials do not believe Johnson’s mental illness was the impetus for the crime.

The murders occurred on the evening of March 23, 2021, at a home in Canton, Ga., where Johnson, his girlfriend, Carla Marie Payne, 30, and her uncle, Thomas Richard “Doodle” Donaldson, 65, lived. Investigators determined Johnson shot and killed Payne and Donaldson in separate bedrooms before fleeing the scene. After the shooting, Johnson drove to a local Ingles parking lot, where he contacted his mother, who urged him to call law enforcement. At 8:11 p.m., 23 minutes after speaking to his mother, Johnson called 911 to report the shooting. Authorities soon responded to the home and found both victims deceased. An autopsy confirmed their deaths as homicides.

Payne suffered multiple gunshot wounds to her chest and arms, and medical examiners determined she was carrying a baby boy of approximately 30 weeks gestational age at the time of her murder. Donaldson sustained multiple gunshot wounds, including injuries to his abdomen and right femoral artery.

“Carla was preparing to welcome baby Mason into the world while the father of her child was living a double life, messaging other women and purchasing firearms,” said Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Rachel Ashe. “He took the lives of three precious souls, one of whom never even got the chance to take his first breath.”

READ: Missouri man charged with three murders in deaths of woman and preborn twins

During the investigation, Johnson claimed he had blacked out during the incident and only remembered arguing with Payne. He also stated that he had not been taking his prescribed medications at the time. However, prosecutors found no evidence that his mental illness played a role in the crime. Instead, they determined that Payne’s attempt to leave the relationship likely motivated the killings.

“While the defendant suffers from mental illness, there is nothing in the evidence to indicate that his mental illness was the cause of this incident,” Ashe said. “Instead, the evidence shows that Carla tried to end the relationship, and he responded by ending her life, the life of their unborn child, and the life of her uncle.”

During the sentencing hearing, the court heard four victim impact statements from Payne and Donaldson’s family members, along with one statement from Johnson’s family. District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway acknowledged the pain suffered by the victims’ loved ones and praised their persistence in seeking justice.

“Over the course of nearly four years, the family of these innocent victims has regularly attended court hearings as they steadfastly advocated for justice in this case,” Treadaway said. “May this sentence bring some measure of peace as they continue to mourn the lives of their loved ones who were so tragically taken that night.”

The conviction includes a feticide charge, affirming the legal recognition of Payne’s unborn child as a victim in this crime.

Editor’s Note: If you are a victim of domestic violence, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline, or call 1-800-799-SAFE.