Memphis man Joshua Dotson, who referred to himself as a “serial killer” during his trial, has been sentenced to 261 years in prison for five murders. Dotson pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon on Valentine’s Day, resulting in the additional 159-year sentence to be served consecutively to his prior convictions. Dotson was initially convicted in 2020 of killing his former girlfriend, Jamesha Covson, and their unborn child in 2024. He argued that Covson was aware of his previous murders, which he claimed was his motive for killing her.
The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office expressed hope that the sentencing brought justice for Covson and her unborn child, stating that those who commit acts of violence with disregard for human life would be held accountable. Dotson took an unusual approach during the trial, testifying in his own defense and likening himself to the fictional murderer Michael Myers.
Dotson also confessed to three additional murders between 2019 and 2020. The sentences, totaling 261 years, bring closure to the victims’ families, with Prosecutor Regina Lucreziano stating that while no amount of time in prison can bring back the victims, they are satisfied that Dotson will never pose a threat to the community again.
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