22-year-old woman died after the man she reported had indecently assaulted her broke into her home and forced her “to do” a cocktail of drugs before stuffing a deadly mix into her mouth
Tennessee – In a horrifying case that has shocked Tennessee residents, a 40-year-old man, identified as L. Osborne, will spend the rest of his life in prison after orchestrating a disturbing act of revenge against a 22-year-old woman, identified as D. Mejia, who had recently reported him for indecent assault. Osborne pleaded guilty last Friday to first-degree murder and several other felony charges in the brutal death of the young woman. Osborne’s guilty plea to one count of first-degree murder, three counts of attempted first-degree murder, and one count of aggravated se-ual battery ensured he would avoid the death penalty. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
On April 3, 2024, Mejia reported to police that Osborne had indecently assaulted her days earlier after she passed out in his home. She told officers she had been drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana at Osborne’s residence, and when she woke up, she was partially undressed and her tampon had been removed. DNA evidence later confirmed the assault.
Instead of facing justice through the legal system, Osborne decided to retaliate in the most savage way possible. The very next night, he and two accomplices — identified as 21-year-old M. Ellis and 32-year-old E. Wilson — broke into Mejia’s home in a calculated attack. Inside were Mejia, a pregnant woman who was nine months along, and the pregnant woman’s boyfriend. All three were forced into the basement at gunpoint. There, Osborne demanded that Mejia shoot the pregnant woman’s boyfriend. When she refused, he turned his anger toward her, forcing her “to do” a coctail of drugs at gunpoint until she passed out.
The horror didn’t end there. Prosecutors revealed that once Mejia lost consciousness, Osborne continued with the act of revenge by putting a deadly mixture of narcotics — including fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine — into her mouth. He reportedly recorded the entire torture session on his cellphone, capturing the abuse in graphic detail. According to reports the three men laughed and joked about how long it was taking for Mejia to die. Osborne even placed a bag over her head and beat her before confirming she was dead.
Once Osborne believed Mejia was dead, he and his accomplices turned their attention to the other two victims. They shot the pregnant woman and her boyfriend, but fortunately both miraculously survived and were later able to provide critical testimony to police. During the home invasion, Osborne was shot in the leg by one of his co-conspirators. He later showed up at a local hospital and spun a false story, claiming Mejia had overdosed and that he was trying to help her when a random assailant entered and shot him. That story quickly fell apart.
After Osborne’s arrest, police searched his cellphone and found not only video footage of Mejia’s final moments but also images documenting the earlier indecent assault. Investigators also discovered that Ellis and Wilson had taken Mejia’s car and set it on fire nearby after fleeing the scene. Both Ellis and Wilson have been charged with first-degree murder and other crimes. Their cases are still pending in court. The case highlights the tragic consequences of unaddressed violence and the devastating impact of drug-fueled rage and vengeance. For Mejia’s family, the courtroom sentence brings some closure, but the loss is immeasurable. Osborne will spend the rest of his life in a Tennessee state prison, with no possibility of release.
