News Releases

Update: Suspect Arrested for Wheaton Homicide

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department-Major Crimes Division have arrested Kwasi Sadler, age 23, of the 5000 block of Sheriff Road Northeast in Washington, D.C., for the homicide of 72-year-old Linda Cheryl Johnston that occurred in her Arcola Avenue home and that was discovered on August 3.  Sadler, who was arrested yesterday afternoon on the strength of a Montgomery County warrant, has been charged with first-degree murder.  Investigation revealed that a tenant who was living in the victim’s home and who moved out of the home on July 30 was an acquaintance of Sadler.

On August 3 at approximately 4:19 p.m., officers from the 4th District responded to a residence in the 2700 block of Arcola Avenue in Wheaton to check the welfare of the victim; a family member had not been able to make contact with the victim via phone and became concerned.  First responders entered the residence and located the deceased victim in a bedroom.  Detectives noted that there appeared to be forced entry into the home via a basement door and that there appeared to have been a struggle.  Investigators determined that the victim’s purse, wallet, car keys, and car (a gold 2007 Toyota Prius) were missing and were presumed to have been stolen.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore ruled the manner of death as a homicide by suspected stabbing.

Investigators believe that the homicide occurred in the morning hours of August 1.  One neighbor saw the victim on July 31.  Another neighbor saw an unknown black male outside of the victim’s home at approximately 6:30 a.m. on August 1.

During the investigation, detectives determined that the victim’s debit card had been stolen and beginning on August 1, had been used to make small-dollar amount purchases at six stores that were located in Laurel, Washington, D.C., and Montgomery County. Investigators also determined that after the homicide had occurred, a person had called the victim’s bank and attempted to change the victim’s personal identification number (PIN) for her debit card.  The phone number associated with the call to the bank belonged to Sadler.

Video surveillance from stores captured Sadler using the victim’s stolen debit card to purchase items.  One such video from August 1 revealed that Sadler’s arm and hand appeared to be bandaged, possibly indicating that he had been injured during a sharp force injury assault.  Another video shows Sadler exiting a store after fraudulently using the victim’s card and entering a vehicle that appeared to be a gold Toyota Prius (the make and model of car stolen from the victim’s home).

On August 8, an arrest warrant was issued for Sadler, charging him with first-degree murder.  He was arrested on August 9 by Montgomery County police officers in Rockville.  During police questioning, Sadler made admissions to killing the victim.  He also provided detectives with the general location of the victim’s stolen vehicle.  Investigators located the victim’s unoccupied and parked vehicle in the area of Layhill Road and Glenallan Avenue in Wheaton.

Sadler is currently on a no bond status and will have bond review today in Rockville District Court.

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Release ID: 16-197
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: homicide