Bricen Rivers, 25, pleaded guilty to capital murder Friday at the Forrest County Courthouse and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, court records show. His guilty plea spared him the death penalty.
Police found the body of 22-year-old nursing student Lauren Johansen in the trunk of a vehicle at Wolf River Cemetery in Pass Christian on July 3, 2024, authorities said. Officials said a man later identified as Rivers was seen fleeing the scene into nearby woods before a manhunt led to his capture.
Investigators later concluded Johansen was killed in Forrest County and her body was transported to Harrison County, authorities said. Rivers had been scheduled to stand trial in October 2026 before he changed his plea.
Rivers was given an opportunity to speak during sentencing. “I just want to apologize for everything that’s happened throughout this process,” he said, according to WDAM-TV. “Lauren didn’t deserve this, and I want to apologize. That’s all I have to say.” Judge T. Michael Reed replied in court, “You’re right. Lauren didn’t deserve this. No woman deserves this. No person deserves this. You’ll never walk out of that jail a free man, but I hope and pray you take this time to get right with the Lord. Because if you don’t, I know where you are going, and that’s not a good place.”
Authorities said Rivers had been jailed in Davidson County, Tennessee, on charges of beating and kidnapping Johansen in December 2023. Lance Johansen, Lauren’s father, has said an administrative error by a county employee allowed Rivers to leave the state while out on bond and contributed to his daughter’s death. The Johansens have filed a $150 million lawsuit against bond companies they say were responsible. “For somebody to kill her, it just shows how much of a loser they are,” Lance Johansen said.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
