Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the sentencing of ANYA JOHNSTON, 29, to 20 years-to-life in state prison for fatally stabbing her 70-year-old neighbor, Susan Trott, in Trott’s Upper West Side apartment in October of 2018. JOHNSTON was sentenced on May 1, 2024. On March 4, 2024, a New York Supreme Court jury found JOHNSTON guilty of one count of Murder in the Second Degree.
“Anya Johnston callously took the life of her neighbor Susan Trott, a lifelong New Yorker with a kind-hearted, generous spirit,” said District Attorney Bragg. “To Ms. Trott’s family and loved ones, Johnston robbed them of a friend, mentor and business partner. Since her loss, they have experienced overwhelming emotional pain, and I hope today’s sentence can offer them a sense of justice knowing Johnston has been held accountable.”
As proven at trial, JOHNSTON and Ms. Trott lived in the same apartment building near West 95th Street and West End Avenue and were acquainted as neighbors. JOHNSTON, who had mental health issues, fantasized about committing a murder.
On October 17, 2018, JOHNSTON ran some errands in the afternoon, including closing her bank account. Later that day, she returned home and went to Ms. Trott’s apartment, carrying a backpack, which contained two knives and latex gloves.
While inside Ms. Trott’s apartment, JOHNSTON took out an M48 Cyclone knife from her backpack, and stabbed Ms. Trott in her lower back. JOHNSTON also stabbed her in the neck, killing her. JOHNSTON left the apartment, returned home and hid her backpack in a nearby stairwell before exiting the building.
For several days following the incident, Ms. Trott’s business partner was unable to reach her and eventually asked the police to do a wellness check on her. On October 21, 2018, at approximately 4:20 a.m., as the police performed the wellness check, they discovered Ms. Trott’s body.
The next day, pursuant to a court-authorized search warrant, officers recovered several items from JOHNSTON’s apartment, including the clothing and sneakers she was wearing during the incident. DNA testing showed that the clothes were stained with Ms. Trott’s blood.
JOHNSTON was arrested on October 31, 2018.
Assistant D.A.s Harrison Schweiloch (Deputy Chief of Trial Bureau 60) and Hannah Yu (Chief of the Hate Crimes Unit) handled the prosecution of this case, under the supervision of Charles Whitt (Chief of Trial Bureau 60) and Executive D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Trial Preparation Assistant Timothy Savastano (Trial Bureau 60), Investigative Analysts Diana Vegas (Trial Bureau 60), Zoe Fleishaker (Hate Crimes Unit) and Senior Investigative Analyst Julie Ann Lim (Hate Crimes Unit) provided invaluable assistance.
D.A. Bragg thanked the New York Police Department.
Defendant Information:
ANYA JOHNSTON
New York, New York
Convicted:
- Murder in the Second Degree, a class A-I felony, one count
Sentenced:
- 20 years-to-life in state prison
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