A Memphis man who chillingly labeled himself a "serial killer" has been handed a staggering 261-year prison sentence after confessing to five murders. Joshua Dotson's sentence includes 159 years stemming from a recent Valentine's Day guilty plea for three counts of first-degree murder. This is in addition to a previous 102-year sentence (two life sentences) for two other first-degree murder convictions.
In 2020, Dotson was found guilty of killing his ex-girlfriend, Jamesha Covson, and their unborn child in August 2024. Disturbingly, he posted "fly high" on social media after her death, yet labeled her a "sex worker" in court, suggesting her supposed knowledge of his prior killings as a motive.
Dotson's unusual courtroom behavior included representing himself and openly embracing the "serial killer" moniker, even comparing himself to the fictional character Michael Myers. Eventually, he admitted responsibility for three more murders committed between 2019 and 2020.
His recent guilty plea encompasses the murder of Divieon Parker, two counts for the deaths of Renita Bennett and Reginald Anderson, and three counts of reckless endangerment involving a deadly weapon. Prosecutor Regina Lucreziano expressed relief that Dotson will no longer pose a threat to the community, acknowledging that while the lengthy sentence cannot restore the lives lost, it offers a degree of closure for the victims' loved ones.
