Colorado Springs man found guilty in killing of teen coworker, sentenced to life in prison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - A jury found Joshua Johnson guilty of murder in the first degree in the killing of his teen coworker Riley Whitelaw in the summer of 2022. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Whitelaw, 17, was found in the break room of a Colorado Springs Walgreens on June 11, 2022. According to court documents, the teen had been stabbed more than 40 times.

Johnson was found a day later by the Colorado State Patrol on I-25 near Walsenburg.

Court documents indicate Whitelaw had complained about Johnson weeks before her murder, saying he made her feel uncomfortable.

She requested to change her schedule to avoid him, but after receiving more hours she ended up back alongside him.

After delays due to requests by the defense for competency evaluations, the trial for Johnson began the last week of September.

After calling four witnesses Wednesday, the defense rested its case. The jury began deliberations around 12:30 p.m.

Just before 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, a jury reached a verdict in the murder trial for the Colorado Springs man accused of murdering his high school coworker.

Johnson was sentenced Wednesday following victim statements. He refrained from speaking, per advisement from the defense. The defense indicated plans to appeal this conviction.

The 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office is holding a press conference at 4 p.m. KRDO will stream that press conference.