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Wife defends man charged in Angela Russo's death

Posted at 8:33 PM, May 30, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-31 03:07:43-04

New details in the case of a Maricopa woman found dead after being reported missing over a month ago are being leaked on social media. 

Angela Russo’s body was found in a shallow desert grave near Tonopah just days ago. Lashawn Johnson was arrested for her murder shortly after. Johnson’s wife claims detectives got the wrong guy and she’s defending her husband’s innocence on the Facebook page dedicated to helping find Russo.

Before her posts disappeared, Brittany Johnson wrote her husband was cheating, but claims he knows who the real killer is and so does she. Johnson says he is working with detectives on the case.

Detectives say the evidence tells a different story. It's what led them to Johnson, who was already in jail on a misdemeanor charge for not showing up for court in an unrelated assault case according to court documents.

"We have enough to charge him with first degree murder and we do believe he is the main suspect," said Maricopa County Sheriff’s Detective Doug Matteson.

Court records show Brittany Johnson had her marriage to Lashawn annulled though she claims they are still together.

Russo’s family says she met Johnson through online dating.

It’s still not clear when she was killed or if the crime was committed in the same place her body was found.