Joe Rogan says a man who appeared on his hugely popular podcast was arrested weeks later in connection with a gruesome killing in New York City.
During this week’s episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan discussed the case of Sheldon Johnson, telling guest Zach Bush that the former inmate was accused of having ‘cut a guy’s head off’ not long after sitting down for a February 2024 interview.
Johnson, who had served decades behind bars, appeared on the program to talk about his criminal past and his efforts to rebuild his life after release following multiple convictions, including homicide and robbery.
‘He does the podcast and then afterwards goes and visits this guy that apparently he had a beef with, kills him, cuts his head off, puts him in a suit [sic], puts a wig on, and tries to escape in the hallway through the cameras,’ Rogan told Bush.
Rogan added: ‘You know, he’s sitting right there, and then a couple weeks later he’s cutting a guy’s head off.’
Johnson was taken into custody in March 2024 and charged with murder, manslaughter, criminal possession of a weapon and concealment of a human corpse, according to the New York Police Department.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges tied to the fatal shooting and dismemberment of 44-year-old Colin Small, who was found dead in his Bronx apartment on March 5.
‘The defendant allegedly shot the victim in the head and then carved up the man’s body, taking drastic measures to hide the evidence,’ Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said. ‘This crime was as cruel as it was gruesome.’
Police officers went to Small’s apartment to conduct a welfare check after a neighbor reported hearing a man pleading for his life, followed by multiple gunshots.
Joe Rogan (pictured during the show uploaded on Wednesday) appeared shocked while discussing allegations that Sheldon Johnson had ‘cut a guy’s head off’ after appearing on the show in February 2024
Johnson (pictured) was arrested in March 2024 and charged with murder, manslaughter, criminal possession of a weapon, and concealment of a human corpse
Johnson is accused of murdering and dismembering Collin Smalls, 44, (pictured) whose head and torso were found inside a Bronx apartment
Investigators found a torso and arms inside the apartment before obtaining a search warrant for Johnson’s apartment. There, they allegedly found the victim’s legs and head in a freezer.
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According to officials, surveillance footage showed Johnson entering and leaving the victim’s apartment while carrying multiple bags and cleaning supplies.
He was also allegedly wearing a wig, sunglasses, a mask and different clothing.
Police told CNN that, at one point, the alleged killer was seen carrying a blue storage bin. Authorities later found a similar bin inside the victim’s apartment with Small’s torso.
Johnson appeared on Rogan’s podcast alongside Josh Dubin, a civil rights attorney who advocates for people he believes were wrongly incarcerated.
During the interview, Johnson discussed turning his life around and working as a criminal justice reform advocate.
‘It was at that moment that I really said, “I have to change my life. I have to change my life. I just can’t do this anymore,”‘ Johnson said.
Still video footage allegedly shows Johnson moving body parts from the sixth floor of Summit Avenue, where the torso was found
Johnson (pictured) is seen walking out of the 44th precinct in the Bronx on murder charges
‘I had a wife, I had kids, I had family still. My son was growing up, hearing stories of my so-called notoriety. I just didn’t want to be that dad.’
Johnson previously served 25 years in prison for attempted murder.
Even his father, Sheldon Johnson Sr, thought that his son had been reformed, telling the New York Post in 2024: ‘I am surprised my son was arrested. I was shocked.’
‘He learned and studied in prison for 26 years. He is a good man. He was doing work in a law office. There were no problems.’
During Johnson’s appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, he wore a Queens Defenders shirt and had been working as a staff member at the public defense organization.
‘I think he threw his life away, but I still love him,’ his father said. ‘I don’t know what happened. I live in New Jersey, and he lives in New York.’
‘He didn’t talk enough with the family.’
