Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the trial conviction of JOHNETTE BOOKER, 43, for physically assaulting and causing the death of her 15-year-old cousin in June 2021. A New York Supreme Court jury found BOOKER guilty on all counts, including Manslaughter in the First Degree, Gang Assault in the First Degree and Assault in the First Degree, among other charges, on February 5, 2025. BOOKER is expected to be sentenced on March 7, 2025. 

“Johnette Booker has now been found guilty for causing the death of her younger cousin. She physically and emotionally tortured her cousin with special needs, in what can only be described as absolutely shocking and horrific behavior. Instead of providing him with love and care when she assumed the role of caregiver by taking him into her home for the summer, she preyed on him, and her actions and omissions caused his tragic death. No child should ever be treated this way, and I thank our prosecutors for their hard work to deliver accountability in this case,” said District Attorney Bragg.  

As proven at trial, and according to court documents and statements made on the record in court, Jallen McConnie, a special needs child who the defendant believed to be autistic, had lived in North Carolina and Georgia with his adoptive sister, his legal guardian. His sister sent him to live with JOHNETTE BOOKER during the summer of 2021, which BOOKER referred to as “cousin boot camp,” as a punishment for what she believed to be misbehavior at home.  

Mr. McConnie arrived at BOOKER’s Upper West Side apartment, on West 94th Street and Columbus Avenue, in late May of 2021. For the 32 days he was in the defendant’s care, he was repeatedly physically and emotionally tortured by BOOKER. He was physically assaulted multiple times with belts, forced to sleep on the floor, forced to sit facing the wall with his legs crossed for the majority of the day, forced to do intensive exercises, hold heavy books over his head, scrub her floor, stand in the corner touching his toes, and was denied his prescription medications. 

On June 28, 2021, BOOKER hit Mr. McConnie with belts on his arms, legs, body and face for over an hour in the living room. The attack left Mr. McConnie’s body covered in welts and bruises, including on the chest, back, face, both arms and both legs. BOOKER also acted in concert with the victim’s cousin and allegedly another family member to hit Mr. McConnie with belts and punch him. 

After the beating, BOOKER brought Mr. McConnie to the bathroom and aided as a family member allegedly ordered Mr. McConnie to open his mouth and forced water down his throat.  Mr. McConnie collapsed in BOOKER’S bathtub. A medical examiner deemed the cause of death to be homicidal asphyxia.  

BOOKER delayed calling 911 and lied to EMS/FDNY, police, ACS, hospital personnel, and family members. BOOKER first claimed she was not home when the incident occurred, and that Mr. McConnie was jumped outside of the home by boys in the park. BOOKER’S lies evolved over time. She later claimed, for example, that Mr. McConnie committed suicide, and at one point filed a letter with the court falsely stating that she was in her bedroom when the incident occurred and could not hear what was happening. 

Assistant D.A.s Nicole Blumberg (Chief of the Intimate Partners and Sexual Violence Bureau) and Thomas Kendris (Intimate Partners and Sexual Violence Bureau) are handling the prosecution of the case under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Christopher Prevost (Deputy Chief of the Trial Division) and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Senior Investigative Analyst Desiree Marks (Intimate Partners and Sexual Violence Bureau), Paralegal Ella Penson (Intimate Partners and Sexual Violence Bureau) and Senior Investigative Analyst Molly Viar (Child Abuse Bureau) are assisting in the prosecution. ADA Maria Luna, former ADA Kristen Caruso and former Investigative Analyst Bailey Hutchins also provided invaluable assistance in the prosecution. The Survivor Services Bureau (SSB) also provided valuable support, particularly Counselors Nakeisha Vanterpool, Alexandra Hickey and Sierrah Smalls.

D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD, particularly Detective Paul Scott (24th Precinct) and FDNY Captain Peter Kearney.    

 

Defendant Information: 

JOHNETTE BOOKER

New York, NY

Convicted:

• Manslaughter in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
• Assault in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
• Gang Assault in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
• Gang Assault in the Second Degree, a class C felony, one count
• Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony, one count
• Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class A misdemeanor, one count

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