Joshua Johnson, 28, was detained on June 12 by state troopers about 100 miles outside Colorado Springs on June 12, a day after Riley Whitelaw’s body was discovered in the break room of the Walgreens where they both worked. Johnson has been charged with one count of first-degree murder, police said.
On June 11, a Walgreens manager in Colorado Springs found Whitelaw’s body in the break room after the high school student never returned from her break, according to the arrest affidavit obtained by KKTV.
Police officers responded to the scene at approximately 6.55 p.m. where they discovered Whitelaw lying in a substantial amount of blood with trauma to her neck area. Officers observed no signs of life and the staff break room had blood on the floor, cabinets, and counter, the affidavit stated.
Justin Zunino, the manager, told police that Johnson had been warned a year ago to keep his conduct professional after Whitelaw complained that he had made advances toward her which made her feel uncomfortable. Zunino said Johnson appeared to be receptive to the warning, according to the affidavit.
However, several weeks ago, Whitelaw had asked for a change in her work shifts to avoid Johnson. Zunino told investigators that the teenager later requested additional hours and was made aware that the overtime would mean she and Johnson would cross paths.
Johnson’s interest in Whitelaw didn’t seem to be deterred when her boyfriend joined the staff at Walgreens three months ago. Crystal Ishmael, another manager at the store, told police that Johnson began “acting jealous” instead.
On the day of Whitelaw’s death, a customer at the Walgreens store heard a woman screaming and the sound of stalls slamming, she later told authorities. Zunino, the manager, told officers that he had seen Johnson on the store’s surveillance video stacking bins in front of the camera to block its view.