COLUMBUS, Ohio — A man will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing a Columbus mosque leader in 2021.
John Wooden Jr., 48, was found guilty of killing Mohamed Hassan Adam in December 2021. He was convicted on two counts of murder, aggravated robbery and kidnapping. A judge sentenced him to at least 73 years in prison on Thursday.
Adam was reported missing on Dec. 22, 2021, after he never arrived to pick up his child from day care. Investigators said Adam was last seen leaving his mosque in a yellow van that night. His body was found inside the van near a wooded area off Windsor Avenue two days later.
An autopsy report showed Adam died from multiple gunshot wounds, including one to the head.
A Franklin County jury also found 23-year-old Isaiah Brown-Miller guilty of aggravated robbery and kidnapping earlier this year in connection to the incident. He was sentenced earlier this week to between 26 to 31 years in prison with mandatory post-release control for two to five years.
Franklin County prosecutors alleged during the trials of the two men that the defendants were trying to get money from Adam and possibly from the mosque’s funds to which the imam had access. Investigators said earlier there was no indication Adam was targeted because of his faith or because he was a member of the Somali community.
Adam’s family took the stand during a trial last October, saying he was always committed to helping those in need.
“He was an interfaith community leader, he was a bridge for Islamic, Jewish and Christian communities. He was also helping youth struggling with mental health and drug addicts,” said Adam’s daughter.
Wooden's attorney said he plans to appeal and advised him not to speak in court, but Wooden shared a short apology with the family. "I apologize to the family for any pain I caused but that's about it."
Adam's daughter didn't believe his apology was sincere.
“He knew what he was doing, I don’t think he is sorry,” Shukri Hassan said.
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