Mother of woman killed by fatal prison beating suspect calls him 'pure evil'

(KMSP) - At the time of the deadly attack on a Stillwater corrections officer, suspect Edward Johnson was serving time for killing a woman in Bloomington in the early 2000s.

The victim, Brooke Thompson, was the mother of a little girl, who was home when the attack happened. Brooke’s mother, Lori Thompson, told Fox 9 she feels like she’s reliving the nightmare all over again.

“Just seeing his face makes my stomach turn—he’s so pure evil that I can’t stand to even look at him,” said Thompson.

She says couldn't believe it when she learned Johnson was accused of violently attacking a corrections officer inside the Stillwater prison.

“I just feel such sympathy for this family—this officer’s family—I know exactly what they’re going through—this monster did it to our daughter and now to their family member,” said Thompson.

Her daughter was just 22 years old when she was stabbed to death by Johnson in 2002. Brooke had previously dated Johnson's cousin and needed a place to stay while she looked for a new apartment. Her five-year-old daughter was in the next room when Johnson attacked her.

“He offered to let her sleep on his couch—as a roommate—just as a friend—you can crash with me until you find another place, and that’s why she was there when all of this happened,” said Thompson. “He became obsessed with her—he didn’t want anyone else to have her—it just snowballed.”

Fox 9 obtained court documents showing Johnson has a history of violent outbursts while in prison. He lost his eye in 2004 when he was stabbed by a fellow inmate at the Stillwater correctional facility. Johnson then sued the head of the DOC at the time and won a six-figure settlement in state court.

Brooke’s family then filed a wrongful death lawsuit against him to make sure most of that money went to Brooke's daughter, Taylor. Before Wednesday's attack, Johnson was set to be released from jail in four years. Thompson says she had always feared that day.

“I know he wasn’t getting re-habilitated in there or getting better—I just knew he was going to be more angry than ever when he got out,” said Thompson.

Thompson says at least now she and her family can live in peace knowing he most likely will never be released from prison.