1st-degree murder charged in Russo death

A suspect has been arrested in the death of Maricopa resident Angela Russo.

LaShawn Johnson, 25, has been booked at Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office on suspicion of first-degree murder.

According to MCSO spokesman Detective Doug Matteson, Russo’s remains were found in a shallow grave near 411th Avenue in Tonopah. Russo, 25, was last heard from on April 20.

Matteson said Johnson was already in MCSO jail on unrelated charges last week when the new charges were made. The detective said information was obtained that led deputies to Russo’s body, which was about an hour away from downtown Phoenix, where her phone last pinged off a tower.

The cause of death is still under investigation, though information beforehand and evidence at the location led to the murder charge. Matteson said he could not release how the information was obtained that led MCSO to the remains.

Russo’s relationship with Johnson is also being investigated.