When an ex-convict got arrested for brutal murder a month after speaking about redemption on Joe Rogan's podcast

Joe Rogan's podcast, the Joe Rogan Experience (JRE), has welcomed its fair share of polarizing socio-political personalities over the years. One particular guest allegedly perpetrated a gruesome murder a little over a month after his JRE appearance.

The aforementioned guest is convict-turned-activist, Sheldon Johnson Jr. He appeared alongside Josh Dubin on episode 2096 of the JRE podcast on Feb. 1, 2024. Dubin, a multiple-time JRE guest, is a criminal justice reform advocate who's long worked to help wrongfully convicted people.

Jailed several times in his youth, mainly for drug-related crimes, Johnson indicated that he was arrested in 1997 for a couple of robberies. He claimed the victims owed him unpaid drug money. Supposedly, one man was injured during a robbery, which precipitated a 50-year prison sentence for Johnson running till "2049."

Johnson recounted that solitary confinement damaged his health, adding that he later disassociated from the gangs and sought education to transform his life:

"I said to myself, 'I've been doing bad for so long; I'm going to try to do something good. If all else fails, I could always go back to doing bad. But let me try. Let me give it a shot.' And I ended up getting into a school program. I got my GED. I left the gangs alone."

The ex-Bloods gang member was given an early release in May 2023, on grounds of good behavior, after completing 25 years. He later worked with troubled youth at the Queens Defenders public law firm.

Check out Sheldon Johnson's comments below (7:25 and 11:16):

Watch the complete Joe Rogan Experience podcast episode below:

On March 5, 2024, a tenant of a Highbridge apartment, located in the Bronx in NYC, notified the building's superintendent Orlando Medina about supposed gunshot sounds.

Speaking to FOX 5 New York, Medina indicated that the surveillance camera footage showed one particular apartment's tenant, 44-year-old Collin Small, entered it but never exited. The police were called. The footage showed a man going in and out of the apartment multiple times, donning different clothes and disguises.

The suspect was reportedly 48-year-old Sheldon Johnson, Small's childhood friend who was arrested while allegedly disposing of evidence.

Johnson was accused of shooting Small in the head and dismembering him. Investigators reportedly discovered Small's torso and foot in a bin in his Bronx apartment. Small's head, arms, and legs were found in the freezer of Johnson's apartment in Harlem.

As reported by NBC, Johnson repeatedly proclaimed his innocence after being arrested. He was indicted on multiple counts of murder, robbery, manslaughter, weapon possession, burglary, concealment of a human body, and evidence tampering.

Watch Sheldon Johnson's arrest below:

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Joe Rogan's reaction to Sheldon Johnson's arrest for alleged murder in 2024

On JRE's episode 2139 in April 2024, Joe Rogan and comedian Akaash Singh alluded to the American justice system's purportedly institutionalized discrimination. Rogan also referenced Josh Dubin's appearances on his podcast and the latter bringing Johnson.

The longtime UFC commentator jestingly highlighted that Johnson underestimated the high-definition surveillance cameras' clarity while allegedly perpetrating the crime. The MMA personality said:

"Cut some dude's head off. And he was wearing a blond wig. Homie didn't understand new HD security cameras. This dude put a blond wig on. They got crystal-clear footage of him with his goatee on, wearing a blond wig, carrying some dude's head."

Watch Joe Rogan's reaction below (0:27):