When police found the body of a missing New Britain man last month, they stumbled upon one of the most gruesome scenes imaginable.
They discovered the body of Cornell Johnson dismembered into 15 pieces -- with his genitals missing, the New Britain Herald reports, citing arrest affidavits.
Police searched but have never found Johnson’s penis, scrotum and testicles.
“It was an incredibly gruesome scene,” Lt. James Wardwell, of New Britain Police, told the paper. “It was hard for all of the investigators but they kept on this investigation night and day.”
Cops believe a New Britain couple -- Sherri Clarke, 35, and Michael Labarge, 48 -- killed Johnson when a drug deal went incredibly bad.
On Aug. 29, Clarke called Johnson for crack cocaine, she told cops. When he picked her up for the exchange, he sexually assaulted her, so Labarge killed him, The Herald reports, citing the affidavit.
On Aug. 30, Johnson’s family reported him missing and police began their search.
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On Sept. 4, Wardwell and several other searchers made the gruesome find. The medical examiner says he died of several stab wounds.
Cops linked Clark and Johnson through phone records, the Register reports, and Clark told police that she had helped Labarge get gas for Johnson’s car after the slaying and then waited on Long Swamp Road as Labarge cut up Johnson’s body with a saw.
Clarke was charged with larceny, hindering prosecution, felony murder, first-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery. She is being held on $1.5 million bond and is due in court Friday.
Labarge is being held on $5 million bond. He is expected back in court Nov. 12.
Another warrant in the case could be unsealed on Thursday.
