A Lauderhill man told a bizarre tale of needing to find a victim who had a Taurus zodiac sign when he described the fatal Easter Sunday stabbing of his live-in girlfriend to police, authorities said Monday.
Darrius Johnson, 22, stabbed Monica Gooden, 20, multiple times early Sunday at their residence in the 2200 block of Northwest 55th Terrace, according to his statements recorded in a Lauderhill police complaint affidavit.
Johnson is in the Broward County Main Jail in downtown Fort Lauderdale, charged with homicide.
Police initially came into contact with Johnson on Sunday as he walked injured along the 2800 block of Northwest 55th Avenue.
It was determined that he received minor stab wounds during an alleged burglary, officials said. It was while Johnson received medical treatment that he described what happened to Gooden, police said.
Johnson mentioned he fought with his girlfriend.
When asked by an officer where she was, Johnson said, "She's in heaven" and "I think I killed her," according to the affidavit.
Gooden was enrolled at Broward College, pursuing an associate of arts degree, a school spokesman said. She also worked as a babysitter for two families, said her grandmother, Mamie Williams.
In 2011, Gooden gave birth to a boy called Darrius Johnson Jr., nicknamed D.J., who arrived prematurely and died a month later, Williams said.
There were rumors among family members that Gooden and Johnson, who once worked at a fast food restaurant, were arguing often, Williams said.
"I never in a million years would dream that this would happen to my first grandchild, and I'm still trying to figure it out," Williams said.
When officers went to check on Gooden, they said they found the home's front door was partially open, and a blood trail led to a back bedroom where her body was on the floor.
The discovery happened about 5 p.m. Sunday, Lauderhill Police Lt. Gregory Solowsky said.
Gooden, who did not have defensive wounds on her hands, had been stabbed multiple times in the back, chin, neck and stomach at approximately 6 a.m. Sunday, the probable cause affidavit states.
A broken and bloody Xbox 360 gaming system was found near her body, along with three knives, police said.
Johnson told police the victim had control over his spirit and that the couple had fought over his wanting a relative to live with them, the affidavit states.
He also said that she would not die, and that he fought her like he was fighting a dragon, according to the police report.
Police said that Johnson also told them he "sacrificed" the victim for his and her betterment, and that he knew he had to sacrifice someone with a Taurus astrological sign, the report states.
He had considered his grandfather a worthy target, but discounted him because the elderly man has medical issues, police said.
Gooden's November birthday does not fall within the Taurus zodiac phase.
Johnson was also accused by police of entering a woman's patio later Sunday at the Stonebridge Garden Condo Apartments in the 2800 block of Northwest 55th Street, and punching her in the face and body.
The woman's nephew heard her screams, began fighting with Johnson and stabbed him with a knife multiple times, according to the affidavit.
Johnson is also charged with burglary with assault or battery.
The nephew of the woman police said was a burglary victim was not identified by police.
"We have no intention at this point in charging the nephew," Solowsky said. "He was protecting the house."
Staff researcher Barbara Hijek contributed to this report.
Ltrischitta@Tribune.com, 954-356-4233 or Twitter @LindaTrischitta ___
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