In the early morning hours of January 16, 2022, the life of 18-year-old DaTara Lynn Johnson, known affectionately as 'Baby D,' was tragically cut short in her Indianapolis apartment. A female with a promising future, she had recently graduated from Beech Grove High School a semester early with plans to study science at Marian University. Friends and family remembered her as a bright and loving young woman with a beautiful smile.
On that Sunday, police were dispatched to the Stone Lake
Apartments on the city's south side after receiving a call about a person being shot. Inside her own apartment, they discovered DaTara suffering from gunshot wounds. She was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to her injuries a few hours later. Neighbors later reported hearing arguing followed by the sound of gunshots around the time of the incident.
The investigation into DaTara's death quickly focused on her 20-year-old boyfriend, Anthony York. Family members suspected the killing was related to domestic violence, stating that the couple had a history of fighting. In the days following her death, her family's grief was compounded when a fraudulent GoFundMe page began circulating, and someone accessed her social media accounts to post messages. Investigators, piecing together evidence and witness statements, identified York as the primary suspect.
A manhunt for Anthony York ensued, leading authorities across the country. On February 10, 2022, he was located and arrested in Phoenix, Arizona, by U.S. Marshals and local police. York was extradited back to Indiana to face charges of murder and carrying a handgun without a license. Initially, he denied his involvement, claiming a masked man was responsible for DaTara's death. Ultimately, Anthony York pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in the death of DaTara Johnson.
