Teen charged in Philly foster mom’s death and duffel bag killing

Philly PD have announced murder charges against the teen who killed his foster mother and the man who was found dead in the duffel bag. 

ABC reports that the teen has been identified as Xavier Johnson, 17.

Johnson was charged with murder in the deaths of Renee Gilyard and Jimmy Mao. 

Police told outlets that robbery was the motive in both cases. 

“Both Miss Gilyard and Mr. Mao were brutally tortured and murdered by Xavier Johnson,” Philadelphia Police Homicide Captain Jason Smith told outlets on scene. 

CBS reported that Mao suffered from stab wounds to his face and neck. They also said to Johnson placed Mao inside a duffel bag and threw it downhill to hide his death. 

Police told outlets that Johnson and Mao lived together at a foster home on the 5000 block of Angora Terrance. 

It is beleived that Johnson stole a PlayStation gaming console and cash from Mao, NBC reports. 

It was reported that he will be charged as an adult. 

Johnson has five prior convictions. 

This is a breaking update.

A 17-year-old boy has been charged in the death of his foster mother and another victim, who was found in a duffel bag, acting Philadelphia Police Commissioner Christine Coulter told outlets. 

“It’s clear to us that they’re connected,” Coulter told outlets on the scene. 

Police told outlets that 65-year-old Renee Gilyard was found unresponsive in her bathtub inside her home on the 300 block of Mechanic Street after around 1:25 a.m. on Wednesday. 

The family came to check in on her and found her covered in blood, with defensive wounds and stab wounds. 

Gilyard’s son is a member of the Philly PD. 

Gilyard’s black Nissan Rogue was stolen at the time of her death but later recovered. The car had the 17-year-old foster teen in it, along with three other teens. 

At the time, the foster kid was a person of interest. 

During a press conference late Wednesday morning, the police said that the teen might be connected to two other missing persons cases. 

20-year-old Jimmy Mao of the 5800 block of Angora Terrace and was last seen on Dec. 29. Police told outlets that Mao’s family had received ransom texts since his disappearance. 

Sources told ABC that Mao and the teen suspect once lived in the same foster home. 

Jacob Merritt-Richburg, 17, from the 1800 block of Vinyard street is also missing. It has been reported that he is an acquaintance of Mao. 

Gloria Richburg, Jacob’s mother, spoke to ABC and told that her son was last seen on Monday. She told outlets that her son had a new cell phone and didn’t explain where he had gotten it from. 

Richburg told ABC that, “Go to them. Tell the truth. When you tell the truth, you won’t be stuck with nothing. Tell the whole truth.” She wants her son to turn himself in and come home. 

The investigation underwent another twist Wednesday afternoon when, at 4:54 p.m., the body of an unidentified man was found in a duffel bag. ABC reports a tip led to the body’s discovery. 

They reported that the body was discovered in an alleyway by 5800 block of Angora Terrace in Southwest Philadelphia, which is where Mao lived with a foster family. 

ABC reported that the body suffered from blunt force trauma. They also said that that the victim is an Asian teen with tattoos, which has been confirmed. 

NBC reports that Philadelphia Police Special Victims Unit Capt. Mark Burgmann said Merrit-Richburg had something that belonged to Mao, but what that was has not been clarified.