Briann Lindsey
The man who was stabbed to death in the capital city Monday evening has been identified as 35-year-old Christopher Johnson and his girlfriend has been charged in connection with his murder.
His girlfriend also tried to mislead detectives when they questioned her about the fatality.
Police were dispatched to the couple's apartment in the 300 block of Clearfield Avenue around 4:15 p.m. Monday. Officials say 25-year-old Briann Lindsey was at the apartment when police arrived and found Johnson dead.
Sources say Lindsey initially told police her boyfriend — identified as Johnson — had left the apartment and was stabbed in an unknown location. She told police Johnson walked back to Clearfield Avenue and collapsed dead in the apartment.
After detectives discussed the matter, sources say, they realized something about that story seemed fishy. Police then took Lindsey to police headquarters where they presumably learned the truth.
Officials have not disclosed a motive for the killing, but Lindsey is charged with murder and related weapons offenses.
Christopher Johnson (submitted photo)
Prosecutors say the investigation revealed Lindsey stabbed Johnson in the kitchen area of their Brookville Commons apartment, and that he collapsed in the hallway. Prosecutors also say Lindsey tried to clean up the crime scene prior to police arrival.
During her first court appearance via video conference, Lindsey was wrapped in a gray blanket and hung her head low the entire time. When a Mercer County judge asked whether she understood the charges against her, the woman accused of killing her boyfriend remained silent.
When pressed by her attorney, public defender Tom Belsky who said she must answer the question, Lindsey began sobbing. Eventually, she squeaked out a "Yes, sir," and continued crying. She struggled with that same type of response two more times to the judge's questions.
Lindsey is scheduled for a detention hearing March 9.
After learning news about his death, several of Johnson's family and friends expressed sorrow on social media.
"Please pray for his mother and sister and the rest of the family," Johnson's cousin Richard Montgomery wrote on Facebook. "Now I lost two cousins to murder."
Trentonian staff writer David Foster contributed to this report.
Brookville Commons in Trenton was the scene of a fatal stabbing Monday night. (David Foster - The Trentonian)