In the late summer of 2020, the life of Joshua James Smelser, a 39-year-old man, was brought to a tragic and violent end in his Detroit home. Having moved to the city only nine months prior, Joshua was known by friends and family as a gentle, kind, and caring soul with a passion for all living things. He had built a life filled with diverse interests, from his work in healthcare at the Henry Ford Health System to his creative pursuits in videography and photography for various musical artists. His love for otters was so profound that it earned him the nickname 'Otterfreak' and inspired him to travel the world to see different species of the animal.
On the evening of September 5, 2020, this peaceful existence was shattered. Neighbors reported hearing multiple gunshots and witnessing a person fleeing from Joshua's house with his backpack, which contained his laptop, phone, and credit cards. Despite their attempts to pursue the individual, they lost him in the darkness. Inside his home, Joshua had been fatally shot in what was described as a senseless act of gun violence during a robbery.
The investigation into Joshua's death uncovered a sinister plot. Authorities identified Diabolique Paris Johnson, a 34-year-old man from Indianapolis, as the primary suspect. The investigation, which spanned three months, revealed that Johnson had been using online dating apps to specifically target and locate gay men. Just four days before the murder, Johnson had committed an armed robbery against another man in Dearborn, whom he had also met through a dating app. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, with assistance from the Fair Michigan Justice Project and the Michigan Attorney General's Hate Crime Unit, brought charges against Johnson, highlighting the predatory nature of his crimes against the LGBTQ+ community.
In March 2021, Diabolique Paris Johnson was charged with first-degree felony murder and felony firearm offenses for the death of Joshua Smelser, as well as armed robbery in the separate incident. The case against Johnson was built upon evidence that included video footage and audio of the murder captured by several cameras. Ultimately, Johnson pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and felony firearm charges. For his crimes, he was sentenced to 25 to 45 years in prison for the murder and a concurrent sentence of 15 to 30 years for the armed robbery, with an additional two years for the firearm charge. The conviction and sentencing brought a measure of justice to the family and friends of Joshua Smelser, though the loss of a man remembered for his kindness and gentle spirit remains a profound tragedy.
