Man sentenced to life in prison for killing gay lover and burning his body

A jury in Philadelphia found Kylen Pratt guilty of first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence and possession of a criminal weapon in the Sept. 27 killing of 20-year-old Naasire Johnson.

Three days later, Judge Giovanni Campbell sentenced the 23-year-old to life in state prison without the possibility of parole, followed by a consecutive term of four and a half to nine years.

Prosecutors alleged Pratt, who had a romantic relationship with Johnson while also dating women, killed the 20-year-old to hide their relationship.

In the early morning hours of February 17, 2022, Johnson got an Uber and drove from his family's residence in West Philadelphia to Pratt's home in the Brewerytown neighborhood. Shortly after his arrival, Pratt shot Johnson in the neck, killing him. He transported Johnson's body to a secluded trail in nearby Fairmount Park and set the body on fire.

Johnson's remains were discovered later that day and the body was identified through DNA analysis.

Based on an anonymous tip, investigators focused on Pratt as a suspect. Police used Pratt's cell records and were able to place him with Johnson and in Fairmount Park at the time of the murder.

An analysis of Pratt's cellphone data revealed that Google searched for news coverage of the discovery of Johnson's remains and also searched for the terms “characteristics of a psychopath,” “sex with corpses” and “kill in cold blood.”

A separate search warrant for Pratt's home uncovered carpet padding and hardwood floors soaked in what was later identified as Johnson's blood.

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Police also discovered that a significant portion of the carpeting was heavily bleached. Police also recovered a 9-millimeter semi-automatic weapon from the apartment, which provided forensic evidence linking the weapon to Johnson's murder.

At the time of Pratt's arrest, Nassire Johnson's grandmother Cynthia told the Philadelphia Investigators She believed her grandson had been the victim of a hate crime and that the murderer was going to prison for life.

“Make no mistake: the murder of Naasire Johnson was a hate crime. “Kylen Pratt did not want anyone to know about his romantic relationship with the victim,” Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney Cydney Pope said in a statement.

“These types of crimes are not just isolated tragedies. They are infecting entire communities,” Interfaith Community Minister Sultan Hakeem Pitts said in a statement. “LGBTQIA people, particularly Black and Brown people, are disproportionately affected by these hate crimes, resulting in deep and lasting mental health issues in our community.

“And while this moment brings a small form of closure, no judgment can fully heal the pain caused by Naasire’s tragic death. He was and is a full human being and more than just a name, full of love, light, intelligence and potential. His death has left an indelible mark on our hearts.”