- "The last Stokes just died."
- ―Tilda Johnson[src]
The Murder of Mariah Stokes was a mission orchestrated by Tilda Johnson in order to kill her mother, Mariah Stokes.
Background[]
Mariah Stokes is found guilty of her crimes
Despite being wounded, Bushmaster managed to escape from the conflict at Harlem's Paradise and hide out in Mother's Touch to avoid arrest, while Mariah Stokes was arrested by Misty Knight, as they had enough information given to them by Shades, as well as taking possession of the Stokes' Revolver, which had been used to kill Candace Miller and Anansi, which they could charge Stokes with.
During his stay at Mother's Touch, Bushmaster had received some medical aid from Tilda Johnson and told her that Stokes needed to die before she harmed anyone else. With his failure to achieve his revenge and the nightshade taking a heavy toll on his body, Bushmaster and Ingrid Mackintosh returned to Jamaica while Sheldon thanking Johnson and asserting her that Stokes must die.[1]
Assassination[]
Tilda Johnson poisoned Mariah Stokes with a kiss
- "You can't save me?"
"Nah. I've done all the saving I can do. But I will keep you company." - ―Mariah Stokes and Luke Cage[src]
Tilda Johnson had concocted a deadly poison named Beso de la Araña and spread it across her lips in order to poison Mariah Stokes while visiting her one last time in Rikers Island. During the visit, Stokes stated that she no longer saw Pete Stokes in her, she now saw herself. Stokes had said that when she got out of prison, she and Johnson could start over again, but Johnson quickly refused that offer. Before she left, Johnson gave Stokes a kiss on the lips, with Stokes unaware that her own daughter poisoned her.
Mariah Stokes realizes she is dying from the poison
Later, Stokes was visited by Luke Cage. During their talk, Stokes began violently vomiting blood. She realized that she has been poisoned by Johnson in her previous visit. With no one coming to help her and nothing that Cage could do, he informed his dying enemy that he could not save her but he would stay by her side partly out of compassion but also out of a desire to watch her die. As Stokes gasped her last breath, she told Cage that their conflict was not done yet. With that said, Stokes died in his arms.[1]
Aftermath[]
- "She really died in your arms?"
"And she thanked me. I'm not sure how I feel about that."
"I was around that lady my whole life. I know she was evil, but I can't front. I'm gonna miss her." - ―D.W. Griffith, Luke Cage and Sugar[src]
Because of her death, Shades' deal with NYPD lapsed. Also, they received an anonymous ledger with information about Atreus Plastics dealings and a code that matched up with their gun sales. Misty Knight used it to arrest Alvarez.
Benjamin Donovan met with Luke Cage and Johnson in Harlem's Paradise to bequeath Stokes's last will. The Basquiat was donated to the Studio Museum in Harlem. Her leftover millions were used to transform the Family First Initiative into the Family First Foundation. Johnson got Cornell Stokes' keyboard, while Cage became the owner of Harlem's Paradise.[1]