Crime

Crime - Topics from July, 2010

The impact of entomology on the Johnson murder case

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Friday, July 30. 2010

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Part nine in a serialization of interviews published on the 26th anniversary of the brutal murder of Donna Johnson:

Mortician Kenny Coggins was washing murder victim Donna Johnson’s hair while preparing her body for the funeral when he noticed fly larvae.

The same debris in Johnson’s hair had been previously noted by another investigator who passed it off as sawdust and thought perhaps it indicated Johnson had been killed in a sawmill. [Full Story »]

Johnson case: Joe Buice, Chuck Keadle, Larry Waller

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Walter Geiger

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Wednesday, July 28. 2010

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Part eight in a serialization of interviews published on the 26th anniversary of the brutal murder of Donna Johnson:

Joe Buice:

Joe Buice is former sheriff of Lamar County and reemphasized the Johnson investigation in 2005.

“We felt like we had enough evidence to take the case to trial. We had a big meeting with the GBI and the folks from the district attorney’s office in December 2005. I begged and pleaded with the GBI but they fought me the whole way.” [Full Story »]

Johnson case: Vickie Green Harris, Vickie Hulett, Tom Davis

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Walter Geiger

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Monday, July 26. 2010

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Part seven in a serialization of interviews published on the 26th anniversary of the brutal murder of Donna Johnson:

Vickie Green Harris:

Vickie Green Harris, ex-wife of local law enforcement officer Cicero Green, was briefly the first wife of Donna Johnson’s widower Jimmy Johnson and a lifelong friend of Donna and her sister Becky Peterman.

“I’ve known Becky and Donna since we all went to church and Becky and I went to Milner school together. I still talk to Becky a lot, we’ve been good friends through the years. I know the pain this family has been through. [Full Story »]

Johnson Case: Rene Hood Chamblee

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Walter Geiger

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Friday, July 23. 2010

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Part six in a serialization of interviews published on the 26th anniversary of the brutal murder of Donna Johnson:

By Rachel McDaniel

Former sheriff’s investigator René Hood Chamblee was the first officer on the scene after Donna Johnson’s car was found at the dumpsters.

“I knew Donna and the Johnson family and the events of that day are burned into my brain.

About six hours after we found the car we found her body ... about a quarter mile down the road. [Full Story »]

Johnson case: The man who found Donna's body

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Walter Geiger

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Thursday, July 22. 2010

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Part five in a serialization of interviews published on the 26th anniversary of the brutal murder of Donna Johnson:

Herman Coffey volunteered to look for his neighbor Donna Johnson after he heard she was missing. He ultimately found her body at about 7:20 p.m.

“I am very aware of the anniversary of Donna’s death. It is like yesterday to me.

“I still get mad. Whoever did it came right between me and (then sheriff, now deceased) Frank Monaghan. It was raining so hard you couldn’t see one car length. [Full Story »]

Johnson case: Victim's sister, Becky Peterman

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Walter Geiger

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Tuesday, July 20. 2010

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Part four in a serialization of interviews published on the 26th anniversary of the brutal murder of Donna Johnson:

By Kay S. Pedrotti

Some of Becky Peterman’s scars from July 16, 1984 go too deep to see; but the pain is etched in her face.

Becky’s life changed irrevocably that day when her sister Donna Johnson was found brutally murdered. The recent death of their mother left Becky the torchbearer in the fight to find Donna’s killer. [Full Story »]

Johnson case: Jan Johnson, Vernon Keenan

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Walter Geiger

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Monday, July 19. 2010

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Part three in a serialization of interviews published on the 26th anniversary of the brutal murder of Donna Johnson: [Full Story »]

Donna Johnson died hard

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Walter Geiger

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Sunday, July 18. 2010

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By Walter Geiger

Twenty-six years ago this past Friday, Donna Johnson died a violent death.

Her murder remains unsolved and, for two generations, Lamar countians have remained largely in the dark as to how she died. [Full Story »]

Crime Alert

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Staff Writer

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Friday, July 16. 2010

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There has been an outbreak of entering auto's recently in the city of Barnesville. In this past week, there has been twelve incidents where someone has entered a vehicle and stolen radios, money and even vehicle batteries. [Full Story »]

After 26 years, murder still haunts community

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Walter Geiger

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Monday, July 12. 2010

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The murder of Donna Johnson on July 16, 1984 changed Barnesville-Lamar County for good.

Many - particularly those in the Piedmont community - began locking doors to their homes which had never before seen a latch.

Firearms permits sold like lemonade on a hot day. [Full Story »]

Gambling raid targets Hot Shot

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Walter Geiger

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Friday, July 2. 2010

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Officers from the Barnesville Police Department and the Lamar County Sheriff's Office conducted a raid July 1 at the Hot Shot store on Veteran's Parkway. [Full Story »]