In a heartbreaking case that has shocked Columbus, Ohio, 33-year-old Lashanda Wilder has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to the murder of her 8-year-old son, Martonio Wilder. The tragic events unfolded in June 2024, revealing a pattern of severe abuse and neglect that culminated in the young boy’s death.
Martonio Wilder, described by family members as having “the most beautiful smile, bright eyes, and full of life,” endured prolonged abuse at the hands of his mother, Lashanda Wilder, and her partner, 34-year-old Johnna Lowe. Court records and witness accounts revealed that Martonio was treated differently from the other children in the household. He was frequently locked in a closet to prevent him from accessing food at night and subjected to cruel punishments, including being forced to carry a heavy medicine ball while walking naked up and down stairs. These actions left him severely malnourished and dehydrated, with an autopsy later confirming a “severe lack of muscle mass.”
On June 28, 2024, Lashanda Wilder called 911 to report Martonio missing, claiming she had not seen him since the previous night. However, when Columbus police arrived at the home on the 1000 block of Olmstead Avenue in the Milo-Grogan neighborhood, Wilder became uncooperative. As officers searched the area with a police helicopter and a cadaver dog, Wilder and Lowe fled the scene with two other children, ages 9 and 3, leaving them at the home of Lowe’s mother, Mary S. Johnson. Around 6:20 p.m. that evening, the cadaver dog located Martonio’s body hidden in the attic, stuffed inside a laundry bag that was placed within a garbage bag.
The Franklin County Coroner’s Office ruled Martonio’s death a homicide, determining that he died from asphyxia due to anterior neck compression, with blunt force trauma to the head, severe malnutrition, and dehydration as contributing factors. The autopsy revealed visible bruises and cuts on his face, around his eyes, nose, mouth, and back, underscoring the extent of the abuse he suffered.
Investigators uncovered further disturbing details. Wilder and Lowe admitted to police that they had beaten Martonio and locked him in a closet to prevent him from “stealing” food. They also confessed to a plan to falsely blame one of Martonio’s siblings for his death. When Martonio became unresponsive, neither woman attempted to provide CPR or seek medical attention, instead choosing to conceal his body in the attic.
Lashanda Wilder’s mother, 69-year-old Mary S. Johnson, played a role in the aftermath by failing to inform police that Wilder’s two surviving children were at her home during an Amber Alert issued for them. Johnson later called 911 to report the children’s presence but claimed detectives had not asked about them. She pleaded guilty on July 7, 2025, to a fifth-degree felony charge of obstructing justice. Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Andria Noble sentenced her to a suspended 12-month prison term and two years of community control.
Adding to the case’s complexity, prosecutors revealed that Lashanda Wilder had stolen over $1,000 from her employer, a Popeyes restaurant, prior to Martonio’s death. Wilder claimed the money was intended for her son’s funeral expenses, but court records confirmed the theft occurred before his death.
On July 15, 2025, Lashanda Wilder appeared in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, where she pleaded guilty to murder, abuse of a corpse, and theft. Sobbing throughout the hearing, she was sentenced by Judge Andria Noble to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 15 years, along with concurrent 12-month sentences for the additional charges. Johnna Lowe had pleaded guilty on June 5, 2025, to murder and gross abuse of a corpse, receiving an identical life sentence with parole eligibility after 15 years.
The case has left Martonio’s family grappling with grief and anger. Rachelle Knight, Martonio’s great-aunt, addressed Wilder in court, saying, “You made a horrible mistake. You had your family. I was there for you. I don’t know what to say. But I forgive you. You have to forgive yourself and deal with the consequences now.” Knight had previously expressed concerns about Martonio’s safety, noting that she had tried to keep him at her home but lacked legal custody to intervene.
Franklin County Children Services had been involved with Wilder’s family since May 2022, providing case management, referral assistance, and behavioral health support. Court records also revealed that police had responded to Wilder’s home 13 times since January 2023 for incidents including domestic violence, disturbances, and a stabbing, raising questions about the oversight of Martonio’s living conditions.
The tragedy of Martonio Wilder’s death has sparked calls for accountability and reform to better protect vulnerable children. His memory, marked by his bright spirit, remains a painful reminder of the consequences of unchecked abuse and neglect.
