Timeline of murder-suicide that ended in death of infant on the 405 Freeway

LOS ANGELES - The death of an infant who was found on the 405 Freeway has been tied to a murder-suicide investigation, California Highway Patrol officers stated Tuesday. 

The tragic event spanned three neighborhoods in LA County and resulted in the death of three people… leaving a 9-year-old girl the sole survivor of her family. 

Below is a timeline of each crime scene.

Woodland Hills

CHP officials said the suspect and mother of the children, 34-year-old Danielle Cherakiyah Johnson, stabbed her partner to death inside their apartment complex in Woodland Hills. 

The murder happened around 3:30 a.m. at the Montecito Apartment complex on Variel Avenue. A neighbor found the man's body after seeing puddles of blood. 

"I walked out our front door and looked to the left, their door was wide open and there was blood all throughout their front door, all the way to the hallway, into the elevator and blood on the walls, so I called my dad," the neighbor told FOX 11.

The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner identified the man as 29- year-old Jaelen Allen Chaney.

The family lived together in the apartment. Neighbors say they were always quiet

"They were very private people," said Richard Berglund. "They didn’t hardly speak to anyone. I’d say hello, and they’d barely answer me."

"They never came out of that unit," said Jody Berglund. "Everything was delivered.  Groceries, food, whatever. They’d open the door, crack it, pick up their stuff and go back inside."

"It’s kind of hard to put into words," said Michelle Lauren, a neighbor. "People are in shock at this time, especially for the children."

Johnson fled the apartment with her two kids in a black Porsche Cayenne, CHP reported. 

Westchester 

Around 4:30 a.m., a driver spotted two kids, an 8-month-old infant and a 9-year-old girl on the northbound lanes of the 405 Freeway at Sepulveda Boulevard/Howard Hughes Parkway exit. 

LAPD Lt. Guy Golan confirmed to FOX 11 that the two girls were sitting in the passenger's seat. The infant was in the 9-year-old's lap. That's when the driver, the girls' mother, slowed down in the middle of the road and pushed them out.

"As the 9-year-old fell into the middle of the freeway, she injured herself and dropped the infant," Golan said. "And then, in a race to get out of the freeway and not get hit by traffic, the 9-year-old managed to get to the shoulder successfully, but the infant was struck by traffic. And so the infant succumbed to her injuries in the middle of the freeway there."

The 9-year-old was brought to the hospital after suffering moderate injuries, and Golan said she has been interviewed by hospital staff.

Officers said after the kids were out of the car, Johnson kept driving on the 405.

Redondo Beach 

After fleeing on the freeway, Johnson made her way to Redondo Beach. Around 5 a.m., her car crashed into a tree near a church on Pacific Coast Highway near Vincent Street. She died at the scene. CHP is treating her death as a suicide. Police say she was driving at speeds in excess of 100 mph. 

NOTE: APP USERS TAP ON TIMELINE TO EXPAND

The two children have not been identified yet. A spokesperson from the California Highway Patrol said authorities are in contact with the 9-year-old’s family.

CHP, LAPD and Redondo Beach Police are investigating the case. 

If you or a loved one is feeling distressed, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The crisis center provides free and confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to civilians and veterans. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Or text HOME to 741-741 (Crisis Text Line). As of July 2022, those searching for help can also call 988 to be relayed to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.