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Mother who killed husband, baby and then herself pictured

by Wilhemina Guertin (2024-04-11)


A Los Angeles mother who murdered her partner before killing their infant daughter can be seen in pictures obtained exclusively by the DailyMail.com. 

Danielle Johnson murdered her partner Jaelen Allen Chaney, 29, at their apartment in Woodland Hills, Calif. before she pushed their infant child and nine-year-old out of their vehicle on a freeway. 

The baby died from her injuries sustained from the fall and the nine-year-old girl suffered moderate injuries.

The shocking events began in the early hours of Monday morning and ended with Johnson, 34, plowing her car into a tree and killing herself.

Days before the killings, Johnson had shared concerns on her social media page that the solar eclipse would bring about the apocalypse. 




Danielle Johnson, seen here, murdered her partner Jaelen Allen Chaney, 29, at their home before she pushed their infant child and nine-year-old out of their vehicle on a freeway





 Jaelen Allen Chaney, 29, was found dead in his Woodland Hills apartment Monday morning. Neighbors said they heard Chaney arguing with Johnson just a few hours before he was killed





California Highway Patrol officials said an infant who was abandoned on the 405 Freeway in the Culver City area died at the scene, but her 9-year old was rushed to a hospital. Above, cops respond to the kids 

Posting on her X profile page, Johnson said: 'Wake up, wake up. The apocalypse is here. Everyone who has ears listen. Your time to choose what you believe is now.

'If you believe a new world is possible for the people retweet now. There is power in choice. There is power in choice!!!!' 

Another post added: 'This eclipse is the epitome of spiritual warfare. Get your protection on and your heart in the right place. 











Danielle Johnson's social media posts grew more alarming days before the solar eclipse 

'The world is very obviously changing right now and if you ever needed to pick a side, the time to do right in your life is now. Stay strong you got this.'

The 34-year-old mom touted herself as a 'reiki master teacher' trained in alternative healing. On her website, Johnson claimed she had 'spiritual gifts' and came from a 'rich lineage of Indigenous Shaman and Medicine Women.'

Johnson was considered a popular 'star seller' on Etsy and sold various audio series that focused on cleansing auras and healing energies based on astrological signs.

Essence.com even lauded Johnson as one of the top Black astrologers to follow and called her commentary 'spot-on, funny and relatable.' 

Johnson had a sizable social media presence with 100,000 people following her astrological advice and purchasing items for her 'candle magic' rituals.

Johnson's family member, who did not want to be identified, said the 34-year old mom was doing well and even set up a new studio.

'She sounded OK when I spoke to her last month,' the shocked family member told DailyMail.com.  

One neighbor said the couple was standoffish and had everything delivered to their home. 

Another neighbor said his wife saw the Twitter posts from Johnson just days before the deaths. 




Danielle Johnson amassed a sizable social media following under her moniker Ayoka 

'They always kept to themselves and would never really say hello when you pass them by. They were just really private people.'

Outside of Johnson and Chaney's apartment, someone placed a single white rose by the door. 

Another neighbor said Johnson was 'a little bit odd,' but seemed to dote on her two daughters. 

'I would comment on how beautiful the baby was,' said the neighbor. 'They really were a beautiful little family.'

Chaney's mother, Juanita Chiricas, told DailyMail.com her son and Johnson were not married and had been together for about two or three years.

Neighbors said the couple had lived in the posh apartment for a little over a year with the two children. 




Jaelen Allen Chaney served as an armament technician, according to his family





Chaney, pictured here with his mother Juanita, joined the Air Force when he was 22

 Los Angeles Police Department officials provided more details on Tuesday as to how the tragedy unfolded. 

Investigators said Chaney and Johnson were heard arguing at about 3:40 a.m. Monday, and at some point, the fight turned deadly when the 34-year-old stabbed her partner.

Chaney was found in the family's apartment by a neighbor who saw blood 'pouring' under the door. 




Outside their home, one neighbor told DailyMail.com that the couple kept to themselves and had everything delivered to their home





Her violent rampage ended with the 34-year-old killing herself after she hit a tree at full speed





Police found the body of their mother 15 miles away. She had crashed into a tree and killed herself





Chaney is seen here alongside his brother Matthew, left, and his mom Juanita, right 

LAPD officials said the bloody knife Johnson used to stab Chaney was found at the home.

Johnson then fled the apartment with her children before her car was spotted on the 405 Freeway where witnesses saw the infant and the nine-year-old pushed out of the vehicle, LAPD said.

Johnson then drove to Redondo Beach at speeds over 100 mph when she plowed her car head-on into a tree, killing herself.

Chaney's grieving brother, Matthew Chiricas, told DailyMail.com his sibling had 'embraced' the older child from Johnson's from a previous relationship as his own. 

'I never seen him like kids, but I know he absolutely adored her.'

 A neighbor reformas en zaragoza told ABC7 she heard the couple arguing in the middle of the night. The next morning, she saw a trail of blood coming out of the apartment.




LAPD officials said Jaelen Allen Chaney, 29, was killed at his Woodland Hills apartment, which had some damage possibly connected to the murder





Cops are still investigating if the woman who was driving the vehicle and fatally crashed into a tree was connected to Jaelen Allen Chaney's murder 





Danielle Johnson, had left a grisly scene at the $5,600 home where she murdered her partner, Jaelen Allen Chaney





Chaney, who loved to travel and play video games, was in the U.S. Air Force for about four years, family members said

'Their door was wide open, there was blood on the floor leading into their apartment, and then a trail of it in the hallway leading up to the elevator, and I saw some blood on the walls,' she said.

Chiricas said his brother checked in with him sporadically, but never shared details of his relationship. 

In one concerning text message from November 2022, he said: 'I have been dealing a lot personally with my girlfriend that I don't care to really share right now because it's not appropriate. 

Chiricas said his brother and his girlfriend had traveled around Europe when he was stationed in Italy.

'The last message he sent to me was greeting me a happy birthday,' Chiricas said.

'He was in the Air Force, but he had dreams to become a weather man. He was just like the rest of us, trying to have fun and trying to have a family.'   

According to a 2020 military archive, Chaney was a senior airman with the 31 Munitions Squadron armament technician when he was stationed in Italy in December.

Police are yet to reveal the a motive behind the incident. Their elder daughter was taken into the care of CPS.  


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Read more:

LAPD connects killings of infant, Woodland Hills man to single suspect - CBS Los Angeles

When Your Horoscopes Don't Cut It, Follow These Black Astrologers To Get You Through The Day | Essence