22-year-old reports rape, then she’s killed next day, TN cops say. Man sentenced

A 22-year-old woman filed a police report saying a man had raped her, then the next day he broke into her home, held her hostage and killed her, Tennessee authorities said.

Latawyne Osborne, 40, avoided the possibility of the death penalty at trial by pleading guilty to first-degree murder, three counts of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated sexual battery, the Knox County District Attorney’s General’s Office confirmed to McClatchy News on June 2.

As part of the plea, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

“This spares all the parties of extended litigation of trial and sentencing and appeals,” Osborne’s defense attorney, Cullen Wojcik, told McClatchy News. “And we hope that this resolution brings a certain level of finality to the whole process.”

Danishka Sibaja Mejia reported to law enforcement on April 4, 2024, that Osborne, described as acquaintance, had raped her a few days earlier, McClatchy News previously reported.

During Osborne’s plea hearing broadcast by WBIR, prosecutors said Mejia was hanging out at Osborne’s home one night, and she smoked and had a drink before falling asleep. She woke up only partially clothed and found her tampon had been removed, but when she confronted Osborne, he denied raping her, according to prosecutors.

She underwent an examination at a hospital, where medical personnel found DNA evidence that Osborne had raped her, prosecutors said.

On April 4, Mejia went to law enforcement to file a report but told police she was concerned about how Osborne would react, prosecutors said.

“One of the things Danishka mentioned during our last dinner on the night of April 4 was that she was not afraid to do the right thing,” Mejia’s mother said in court. “She wanted to follow up with this report so that (Osborne) will not hurt any other women. Although it cost her life, she’s going to have her final wish.”

The next day, Osborne is accused of killing the 22-year-old.

A couple that survived the home invasion targeting Mejia told police that Osborne and two unknown masked men broke into the Knoxville home in the middle of the night, prosecutors said.

A 23-year-old woman who was nine months pregnant and her boyfriend, also 23, were taken to the basement by the two unknown men, then Osborne brought Mejia down as well, according to prosecutors and police.

Osborne ordered Mejia to shoot the boyfriend in the head, but she refused, “begging for no one to be harmed,” prosecutors said.

Osborne gave her a baggie that appeared to contain drugs and forced Mejia at gunpoint to snort it with a straw until she passed out, prosecutors said.

The couple tried to revive her by performing CPR and putting water on her while begging Osborne to stop, but Osborne continued to torture her while she was unconscious, filming parts of the assault, prosecutors said.

Once Mejia appeared dead, the men shot the couple, who both survived, according to law enforcement.

Osborne was accidentally shot by one of his co-conspirators during the incident and went to the hospital himself, but he made up a story about trying to help Mejia having an overdose when a stranger broke in and shot him, prosecutors said.

The Knoxville Police Department identified the two other men from the home invasion as 21-year-old Marquis Ellis and 32-year-old Edward Wilson. The two of them stole Mejia’s car and set it on fire after the break-in, prosecutors said.

The medical examiner determined Mejia’s cause of death was toxicity from a drug cocktail that included fentanyl, heroin and meth, according to prosecutors.

Mejia’s mother described her daughter as a loyal and selfless young woman who “only ever got in trouble for defending others.”

“She loved helping others and would even share her lunch at school when she thought someone else needed it,” she said at the hearing. “At times, on her days off of work, she would ask her friends to help make sandwiches, then go offer them to the homeless folks.”

Mejia was a competitive dancer and volleyball player from Costa Rica, family said.

“She was a thoughtful, gentle soul who always rooted for the underdog,” her grandmother said in front of the court. “She didn’t have a horrible bone in her body.”