He Went On Joe Rogan… Then Killed Someone 38 Days Later
From Spotlight to Shadows
On February 1, 2024, Sheldon Johnson made a memorable appearance on *The Joe Rogan Experience.* He shared his life story and insights that captivated a wide audience. Many felt it could signal the start of something big for him.
But just thirty-eight days later, in a shocking turn of events, he found himself in handcuffs, arrested and charged with murder. The stark contrast between the hope of that day and the grim reality that followed left everyone wondering how things had spiraled so drastically.
Sheldon had long been a product of his environment, but now he was at the center of a storm that no one, least of all him, could have foreseen.
This time, Sheldon was tuning in to episode 2096 of the Joe Rogan Experience, a show he had grown to rely on for insight and inspiration. The conversation this week featured Sheldon’s favorite guests—Joe and his engaging counterpart, Josh Dubin.
With their rapid-fire exchanges and deep dives into thought-provoking topics, the trio was sure to keep him both entertained and challenged.
As he settled into his worn-out couch amidst the memories of his upbringing in the Martin Luther King Jr. Towers, Sheldon felt a rush of connection to the world beyond his Harlem roots.
Sheldon’s Story
Josh had become a familiar voice on the podcast, making six appearances to date. Each time, he passionately shared the story of his work as a lawyer advocating for wrongfully convicted felons.
On three occasions, he brought along individuals whose lives had been upended by flaws in the justice system, allowing them to directly share their harrowing experiences with the audience.
These compelling narratives left listeners not only informed but deeply moved by the injustices faced by those trapped in an unforgiving system.
Sheldon’s transformation was nothing short of surprising. Growing up in the Martin Luther King Jr. Towers, he had navigated the harsh realities of life in a struggle against the odds, but now, a remarkable change was evident.
No longer just the boy from the housing project, Sheldon had begun to reshape his identity, inspired by dreams that extended far beyond the gritty streets of Harlem.
He could feel the weight of his family’s past slowly lifting, replaced by an emerging sense of purpose that made him stand a little taller.
Little did he know that this new appearance would spark conversations and expectations he never could have imagined.
Unlikely Seatmate
Usually, Josh found himself beside individuals who had been wrongfully convicted, sharing stories of injustice and heartache. But this time, the man seated next to him was different.
Sheldon had just completed a staggering 25 years behind bars, fully aware of his guilt.
His presence was a stark reminder of the choices that had led him to this moment, a reality that weighed heavily on their conversation as they stared ahead into the uncertain future.
Josh couldn’t shake the feeling that Sheldon’s punishment was disproportionately severe.
Sheldon had faced challenges that most couldn’t even begin to fathom. With a lineage marked by the shadows of incarceration—his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather each caught in the web of the justice system—Josh felt a swell of empathy for his friend.
He believed that instead of a harsh sentence that felt more like a fate than a fair consequence, Sheldon deserved understanding and support to break free from the cycle that had ensnared his family for generations.
Sheldon’s Roots
Sheldon, born in 1975, spent his childhood within the looming walls of the Martin Luther King Jr. Towers, a stark symbol of hardship in Harlem.
Surrounded by the echoes of distant sirens and the hustle of city life, he navigated a world where opportunities felt scarce.
The weight of his family’s history hung over him like a heavy fog; his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather had all faced time behind bars, a cycle that seemed unbreakable.
Growing up in such a daunting environment, Sheldon yearned for a different path—a life where he could defy the expectations laid out before him.
Sheldon came from a long line of men whose lives had been marked by confinement, a legacy woven into the very fabric of his family history.
His father had spent years behind bars, just like his grandfather and great-grandfather before him, each generation seemingly caught in a relentless cycle of hardship.
Growing up in the Martin Luther King Jr. Towers, a bleak housing project in Harlem, Sheldon often felt the weight of this inheritance pressing down on him.
The shadows of his ancestors loomed large, and he couldn’t help but wonder if their choices would forever define his own path.
Translation and Trafficking
Sheldon stood out in his family, not just for the stories he could tell, but for his ability to hear—a gift no one else in his family shared. Born into a world of silence, he was the only one among his parents, sister, and aunt who could hear the bustling streets outside their home in the Martin Luther King Jr. Towers.
Growing up in Harlem, where dreams often collided with despair, Sheldon balanced the vibrant sounds of life around him with the quiet existence of his loved ones. Their home held whispers of resilience, but for Sheldon, it was also a constant reminder of the barriers silence created, leaving him both connected and isolated in ways he had yet to fully grasp.
As a young boy, Sheldon found himself drawn into a world far beyond his years.
Helping his father, a notorious drug dealer, he learned the delicate art of negotiation and translation as they navigated the dangerous landscape of illicit deals.
By the time he turned twelve, the lines between childhood innocence and the shadows of his father’s life had blurred, and he found himself stepping into the same perilous role, eager to impress and make his mark amidst the chaos that surrounded them.
From Lookout to Lockup
Sheldon began his journey in the shadowy corners of the drug trade as a mere lookout, eyes peeled for any sign of trouble. The high stakes and adrenaline of this underworld lured him deeper, and soon he climbed the ranks, entangled in a life that spiraled into darkness.
Minor troubles with the law soon turned into a troubling collection of petty crimes, from driving without a license to facing charges for small-time drug offenses.
Each misstep was a bitter reminder of the circumstances that shaped his existence, echoing a family history steeped in patterns of incarceration and despair.
After a string of poor choices and misjudgments, Sheldon found himself facing the harsh reality of life behind bars, landing him in the notorious Rikers Island.
The echoes of his family’s troubled past loomed large over him, a dark legacy he could not seem to escape.
From the time he was young, stories of incarceration had woven through the fabric of his upbringing in the Martin Luther King Jr. Towers, creating a haunting familiarity with the prison system.
Second Chances Lost
At just 21, Sheldon spiraled after his release, making choices that further entrenched him in a life of crime. He committed two armed robberies in quick succession, leading to a staggering 50-year prison sentence.
The weight of his decisions pressed heavily on him, a tragic continuation of the cycle of hardship and imprisonment that had plagued his family for generations. Sheldon couldn’t have known then that these reckless acts would forever alter his life, sealing his fate within the concrete walls of a cell.
Josh couldn’t help but voice his frustration, insisting that the response was entirely overblown. After all, only one person had emerged with minor injuries—a few stitches from an unfortunate bump on the head.
The way everyone was reacting, you would have thought a calamity had struck, but to him, it felt like a disproportionate alarm for what was, in essence, a small mishap.
He glanced around, shaking his head at the chaos unfolding, as others fretted and fussed over the incident, making him wonder how they could be so quick to panic over so little.
Rebirth Behind Bars
During his time behind bars, Sheldon experienced a profound awakening. Confronted by the weight of his past choices, he picked up a tattered journal and began documenting his journey toward redemption.
With each page, he poured out reflections on hope, change, and the possibility of a life free from violence. He scribbled words of wisdom, urging others to break the cycle that had trapped so many before him.
In that dim prison cell, amidst the echoes of despair, Sheldon found a flicker of purpose that could light the way to a better future.
Sheldon’s journal entries were a testament to his resilience and determination, chronicling a man on a quest to reconstruct his life piece by piece.
Each page revealed his struggles and aspirations, filled with raw emotion and insights that laid bare his journey from the shadows of his family’s troubled past.
He poured his heart into every word, documenting the small victories and setbacks as he sought to forge a different path for himself, one that would break free from the chains of history that had bound his relatives.
In those scribbled lines, he found both solace and strength, and the faint flicker of hope that tomorrow could be increasingly brighter than today.
Turning a New Leaf
While serving his time, Sheldon discovered a new purpose within the concrete walls of prison.
With a fierce determination to rewrite his narrative, he devoted himself to education, starting with obtaining his GED.
That accomplishment lit a fire in him, propelling him to pursue further studies, and soon he earned a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science.
It was a release of sorts, a transformation that allowed him to envision a future far removed from the shadows of his past.
Through sheer determination, Sheldon made significant changes in his life.
He gave up smoking, a habit that had long held him captive, and found a new purpose working in the law library.
There, he immersed himself in legal texts, eager to learn and grow.
With each passing day, he also extended a helping hand to his fellow inmates, providing guidance and support with their legal struggles.
This newfound mission not only brightened his days behind bars but also kindled a hope for a future beyond the prison walls.
A Model Inmate
His journey from the challenging confines of the Martin Luther King Jr. Towers in Harlem, surrounded by the weight of a familial legacy steeped in incarceration, was truly inspiring.
People began to see him not just as a product of his environment but as a symbol of resilience and hope.
This passionate support ignited discussions about redemption and the potential for change, piquing the interest of those who had once dismissed him as just another statistic.
According to prison social worker David Roth, Sheldon had transformed into a model inmate, dedicating his days to productive activities that nurtured his spirit. No longer defined by his past, he immersed himself in programs that helped him rewrite his story, striving to break the cycle that had burdened his family for generations.
The stark prison walls no longer felt like confinement but a space for renewal and growth, and Sheldon was ready to seize his second chance.
Life Beyond Bars
After 25 long years behind bars, Sheldon finally stepped into the world outside, a testament to his remarkable good behavior. He was determined to make a fresh start and seized the opportunity to share his story on the podcast *Success After Lockdown*.
With an air of conviction, he spoke about his past and hinted at a bright future, adamantly declaring that he would never find himself in those prison walls again. For Sheldon, this was not just a chapter closed; it was the beginning of a journey he hoped would be fundamentally different from the legacy woven through the generations of his family.
As Sheldon sat quietly, he mulled over the incredible changes that had shaped his life. His heart swelled with pride as he recounted the tumultuous journey he had undertaken to redefine his future, moving away from
Each step he took felt monumental—every small triumph became a stepping stone toward a brighter future.
Reflecting on the challenges he had overcome, he saw them as a testament to his resilience. With each passing moment, a renewed sense of purpose surged within him, as he envisioned the life he was building, one shaped by determination and hope.
Sheldon’s Second Chance
A month had passed, and Sheldon found himself once again in the familiar setting of Joe Rogan’s podcast. This time, he had a renewed sense of purpose.
As the recording equipment hummed softly, he emphasized how education had turned the tide for him. It drastically lowered the odds of relapse into a life behind bars.
With each word, he passionately conveyed his journey from the depths of Harlem’s Martin Luther King Jr. Towers to the brighter path he now forged. He was determined to rewrite his family’s narrative of incarceration.
The weight of his past lingered, but Sheldon was resolute—this time, he was not just sharing his story; he was crafting a legacy of hope and change.
Josh often pointed to Sheldon as a shining example of how change could flourish against the odds.
Sheldon had defied the expectations laid upon him by his family’s legacy of incarceration. His father, grandfather, and great-grandfather had all faced the confines of prison walls, a pattern that could have easily ensnared him as well.
Yet, Sheldon’s journey was one of resilience, proving that transformation was not only possible but achievable for those willing to fight for it.
From Darkness to Light
Sheldon embarked on a meaningful career with the Queen’s Defenders, dedicating his time to guiding troubled youth toward hope and redemption.
Each day brought new challenges, but he found a profound sense of purpose in his work, nurturing dreams where there had once been despair.
As he became more immersed in advocacy, the idea of pursuing a law degree began to take root, exciting him with the possibility of becoming a voice for the voiceless in a system that often overlooked them.
Despite his shadowed past, Sheldon was determined to carve out a future filled with possibility.
Sheldon reflected on the incredible journey that had brought him to this moment.
He contrasted his tumultuous past with a life that now felt like soaring above the clouds. Growing up in the Martin Luther King Jr. Towers had felt like being trapped in the very bowels of Hell—surrounded by despair and the weight of generational struggles.But now, looking back, he couldn’t help but appreciate the distances he had traveled, from the shadows of his upbringing to the bright expanse of hope and opportunity that lay ahead.
It was a transformation he never imagined possible, and it filled him with a sense of wonder and gratitude.
Life Takes a Dark Turn
However, fate dealt Sheldon another cruel blow. Just thirty-eight days after he had bared his soul on Rogan’s show, a shadow loomed large over his life, threatening to unravel the hard-won progress he had made.
In that brief span, hope had begun to flicker in his heart, but now it felt as if the universe was intent on dragging him back into a darkness he desperately sought to escape.
Sheldon found himself at the center of a chilling accusation: he was charged with the murder and dismemberment of his childhood friend, Colin Small.
The weight of the allegations crashed down on him like a heavy shroud, conjuring memories of their shared past—from innocent games on the playground to the dark days spent together behind prison bars.
Surrounded by the echoes of their troubled upbringing in the Martin Luther King Jr. Towers, where survival often felt like a daily battle, Sheldon couldn’t help but wonder how it had come to this.
The trust they had built as young boys seemed to evaporate, replaced by the stark reality of betrayal and violence that now haunted him.
As he faced the insurmountable scrutiny of the world, he grappled with the question: could he possibly be guilty of such a heinous act against someone he once called a friend?
Unraveling the Mystery
On the chilly evening of March 6, 2024, the neighborhood’s tranquility was shattered as police responded to a frantic call reporting gunshots from Colin’s apartment.
When they arrived, they found Sheldon inside, visibly shaken, insisting that Colin had fled upstate in haste.
The air was thick with tension, filled with unanswered questions and the stark reality of lives intertwined with violence—a far cry from the innocence that once echoed through the hallways of the Martin Luther King Jr. Towers.
The weight of Sheldon’s past lingered as he faced yet another twist in a life marred by chaos and uncertainty.
The search for Colin had taken a dark and harrowing turn.
Authorities scoured the area, combing through what was left of a neighborhood once vibrant with life.
It was there, in two separate locations, that they uncovered the dismembered remains of his body, a gruesome testament to the violence that had tragically engulfed their world.
The discovery sent shockwaves through the community, where whispers of fear and disbelief began to circulate. For those who knew Colin, it marked a devastating end to a young life overshadowed by the shadows of his surroundings.
Arrest and Denial
Surveillance cameras captured Sheldon slipping in and out of Colin’s apartment, donning an array of disguises that transformed him into a different person each time.
The startling footage painted a vivid picture of deception, leading to his swift arrest and subsequent murder charge.
As he sat in the courtroom, a whirlwind of emotions coursed through him—anger, disbelief, and a fierce determination to assert his innocence.
Despite the heavy weight of the accusations, Sheldon clung to the belief that he would prove his truth in a world quick to judge.
Sheldon stepped into the courtroom, his heart pounding.
The judge’s gaze was fixed on him as he declared his plea: Not guilty.
This plea wasn’t just words; it defied the cycle that had trapped his family for generations in the justice system’s grip.
In that moment, Sheldon felt both the weight of his past and a flicker of hope, determined to carve a new path amidst the shadows of his history.
Backlash and Doubt
The public’s response was immediate and unyielding, casting doubt on Sheldon’s alleged transformation.
As the episode aired, the comments section erupted with skepticism, with many mocking his claims of reform. Critics quickly seized the opportunity to question the sincerity of his journey, suggesting that change was simply a façade.
It was clear that the audience had little faith in his newfound convictions.
The allegations sent shockwaves through Sheldon’s family, leaving even his father in disbelief.
Raised in the Martin Luther King Jr. Towers, Sheldon was no stranger to struggle, but this turmoil felt different.
The family’s history of incarceration loomed large, and just as Sheldon seemed poised to break free from the cycle, the accusations threatened to pull him back.
Fear and confusion ignited in a household long accustomed to secrets and shame. The weight of it all was almost unbearable.
Public Reactions
Despite having sung Sheldon’s praises on his popular podcast, Josh Dubin had refrained from offering any public comments regarding the recent developments.
The silence was deafening, particularly given the prominent platform he held and the close ties he had once boasted with Sheldon.
Listeners eagerly awaited his thoughts, wondering if he would stand by his support or distance himself from the situation.
In a world where voices often echoed loudly, Josh’s muted stance only deepened the intrigue surrounding their complicated relationship.
In a surprising twist, Joe Rogan weighed in on the situation, voicing his incredulity over Sheldon’s actions.
It was hard to reconcile the image of a man who appeared to have turned his life around with the brutal crime he had committed.
As a figure who often explored the depths of human behavior through his podcast, Rogan found it difficult to fathom how someone who seemed to have emerged from such a troubled past could fall into darkness once more.
The Impact of Incarceration
Rogan pondered the twenty-five years Sheldon had spent behind bars. Could such a lengthy imprisonment truly prepare someone for life on the outside? It was a troubling thought. After decades of confinement, could the hardened walls of a prison cell actually worsen a man’s instincts and behaviors?
The question gnawed at him as he reflected on Sheldon’s troubled past and the legacy of incarceration that loomed over him like a shadow. How could anyone expect a seamless reintegration into society after being immersed in a world so distant from the one he would return to?
Rogan raised a critical issue about the inadequacies of rehabilitation programs in the prison system. He pointed out that many inmates, despite serving their time, were released without the skills and support needed to succeed outside.
This harsh reality often led them back into cycles of struggle and incarceration, highlighting a system that failed to truly rehabilitate. In a world where second chances are rare, Rogan’s insights underscored the urgent need for reform and compassion for those navigating life after prison.
