Offender Record · OFF-2026-098
Vincent Johnson (photo from the Radford University biography)
Vincent Johnson
Also known as The Brooklyn Strangler, The Williamsburg Strangler
Sex
Male
Race
African American
Height
5'3"
Born
1969
Custody
Deceased
States
NY
Distinguishing features5'3" tall
Custody
Sentenced to life without parole on March 10, 2001; died September 20, 2024
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Summary of the record
Vincent Johnson was born January 6, 1969, in Brooklyn, New York. He was convicted of first-degree murder and five counts of second-degree murder for strangling five women in the Williamsburg and Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhoods of Brooklyn between August 1999 and June 2000. He pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree murder and five counts of second-degree murder on March 10, 2001, receiving a life sentence without parole. Johnson died in prison on September 20, 2024, at age 55.
Documented Arrests, Charges and Convictions
Dispositions are shown exactly as the cited records report them. Pending charges are updated when a court acts; a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed from the site.
Offense date Aug 26, 1999, Brooklyn, New York
First-degree murder
New York County · Arrested Aug 05, 2000 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment without parole
Johnson strangled Vivian Caraballo, a 26-year-old woman, on August 26, 1999, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Her body was found in an elevator room, and DNA evidence linked Johnson to this and other murders.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Johnson, Vincent; Vincent Johnson; Vincent Johnson
Offense date Sep 16, 1999, Brooklyn, New York
Second-degree murder
New York County · Arrested Aug 05, 2000 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment without parole
Johnson strangled Joanne Feliciano, a 35-year-old woman, on September 16, 1999, on a rooftop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Johnson, Vincent; Vincent Johnson; Vincent Johnson
Offense date Feb 21, 2000, Brooklyn, New York
Second-degree murder
New York County · Arrested Aug 05, 2000 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment without parole
Johnson strangled Laura Nusser, a 43-year-old woman, on February 21, 2000, in a utility room under the Williamsburg Bridge with an electrical cord.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Johnson, Vincent; Vincent Johnson; Vincent Johnson
Offense date Jun 07, 2000, Brooklyn, New York
Second-degree murder
New York County · Arrested Aug 05, 2000 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment without parole
Johnson strangled Patricia Sullivan, a 49-year-old woman, on June 7, 2000, in a vacant lot in Brooklyn with shoelaces.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Johnson, Vincent; Vincent Johnson; Vincent Johnson
Pattern and Background
Victim counts and the pattern of the offenses as stated by courts, agencies and the cited reporting. Suspected counts are what officials have said publicly, not a finding of this site.
5
Victims convicted
5
Victims confessed
1
Victims suspected
Active years
1999–2000
Stated motive
Anger or revenge
Range from home
local
Confessed
Yes
Marital history
Never married
Died
2024-09-20 · natural
Places Lived, Worked and Frequented
Each place and date range comes from a cited record. Dates marked approximate are as reported. Know a place that is missing? Use Edit record under the photo; a moderator reviews it before it appears.
NY
Brooklyn, New York
approx. 1969 · Homeless; frequently in Williamsburg and Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhoods; slept in utility room under Williamsburg Bridge
Village of Alden, New York
Aug 2000 – present · Wende Correctional Facility, DIN 01A2526
Timeline
Jan 06, 1969
Vincent Johnson born in Brooklyn, New York
1990
Johnson had violent fights with live-in girlfriend Patricia Carter
1995
Patricia Carter kicked Johnson out of her apartment
Aug 26, 1999
Johnson strangled Vivian Caraballo, age 26, in an elevator room in Williamsburg
Sep 16, 1999
Johnson strangled Joanne Feliciano, age 35, on a rooftop in Williamsburg
Sep 25, 1999
Johnson strangled Rhonda Tucker, age 21, in an apartment with a drawstring
Feb 21, 2000
Johnson strangled Laura Nusser, age 43, in a utility room under Williamsburg Bridge with electrical cord
Jun 07, 2000
Johnson strangled Patricia Sullivan, age 49, in a vacant lot with shoelaces
Aug 05, 2000
Johnson arrested after DNA evidence linked him to the murders
Mar 10, 2001
Johnson convicted of first-degree murder and five counts of second-degree murder; sentenced to life without parole
Sep 20, 2024
Vincent Johnson died in prison at Wende Correctional Facility at age 55
Sources
Solve the Case is never the original source. Each item below is the public record a statement on this page rests on, with an archived copy where one exists.
News report ·
Vincent Johnson: Brooklyn Strangler Dies in Prison (2024)“Vincent Johnson died in prison on September 20, 2024, at the age of 55”
News report ·
Brooklyn Strangler Serial Killer Vincent Johnson Targets Women“26-year-old Vivian Caraballo found on August 26, 1999; Laura Nusser found February 2000 under Williamsburg Bridge; Patricia Sullivan found June 2000”
News report ·
Vincent Johnson“Vincent Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of first degree murder and five counts of second degree murder to avoid a possible death sentence.”
News report ·
Serial Killer #4: Vincent Johnson AKA The Brooklyn/Williamsburg Strangler“Johnson pled guilty and accepted life imprisonment without parole rather than the death penalty; convicted March 13, 2018 of stabbing Misty Battisti”
Other ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Johnson, Vincent“Vincent Johnson born January 6, 1969; arrested August 5, 2000; convicted April 8, 2001; sentenced to life in prison”
News report ·
Vincent Johnson“Sentenced to life in prison without parole on March 10, 2001; confessed to murders of Patricia Sullivan, Rhonda Tucker, Joanne Feliciano, Vivian Caraballo and Laura Nusser”
Discussion
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