Janice David’s friends say she was robbed of chance to overcome addiction

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - After a gruesome murder, Janice David’s friends say she was taking the right steps to get help but her murderer took that away from her.

“He didn’t have to do my friend like that,” said Ravean Duncan. “She was still a person and she still mattered. Like, she still mattered.”

Duncan and Skylor Hansford are trying to wrap their heads around what happened to their friend.

“But to fix stuff like this, y’all don’t give up on people,” added Duncan. “Still be there. People matter. People matter.”

Earl Lee Johnson Jr. posted a video on social media. Police say as it streamed live, he was beating, choking, and stabbing David. The two had reportedly been on a drug binge for several days.

“You must have gave up on her as a human being. Seeing her as a human being with a problem you have … up and just left her like that, like her life was nothing,” explained Duncan.

David’s friends were aware of her struggle with addiction but they never gave up on her, believing there was still time for her to turn her life around.

“We both just took her to sign up for a class at her parole and probation office. It hadn’t been two weeks since we did this. She was supposed to be in class this week. Never made it,” noted Duncan.

Tonja Myles, a certified peer support specialist, said she tried to help David over the year with her addiction.

“Yeah, one thing I remember about her was always her smile, always wanting to get out of that life,” said Myles. “I know that feeling.”

Myles added it’s important to remember there’s always time to turn back, no matter how long you have been using.

“She has lost her life in this horrific way. She was basically robbed of seeing the recovery part of what overcoming addiction looked like,” explained Myles.

Myles also said any type of user needs love and support in order to get through the recovery journey.

“I don’t care if we got to try it 1,000 times to get you help. We still going to keep trying. You are still a human being just like us, man,” said Duncan.

If you are seeking substance abuse treatment, visit When You are Ready Baton Rouge.

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