Judge Declares Mistrial for Man Accused of Killing His Son’s Mother the Day after 2019 Valentine’s Day

By Andrew Michaels - January 24, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

“Who killed Maryann?”

After asking the jury this question during closing arguments on Jan. 23, the prosecutor silently pointed to 36-year-old Arnold Johnson.

Over three days, the homicide defendant stood trial for the murder of Maryann Wellington, his son’s mother, who was shot in the face and killed the day after Valentine’s Day in 2019. Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Patrick Stringer declared a mistrial on Jan. 25 for reasons unknown to Baltimore Witness.

The defendant is scheduled to appear in reception court on Oct. 25 to discuss a new trial.

Johnson is facing first-degree murder and three weapons charges for Wellington’s murder in the early morning hours of Feb. 15, 2019, at her apartment on the 4900 block of Goodnow Road. Wellington was shot in the face and found in a pool of her own blood on the kitchen floor.

“This was not a burglary. No one broke in through that front door,” the prosecutor said in her closing argument.

Defense attorney Gregory Fischer argued that Johnson came home to find the front door and window open, yet the prosecution counted that there were no signs of forced entry. Wellington was also on the phone with her friend that evening—a phone call that she was recording.

“Leave me alone! Get off of me!” Wellington is heard saying on the recorded call, which was played before the jury.

“Does that sound like a statement someone would be having with someone who burglarized their home?” the prosecutor asked the jury.

Fischer reminded the jury of the defendant’s 911 call and body camera footage from Baltimore Police, both of which showed the defendant was hysterical and barely able to tell responders what happened, therefore, showing obvious signs of distress.

“If he showed too little emotion, then he’s cool. If he shows too much, he’s faking it,” Fischer said. “He can’t win with the [prosecution].”

At the conclusion of the trial, the defense attorney told the jury that they were only “left to guess and to speculate” what happened during Wellington’s phone call.