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Becky Peterman pauses to reflect at the site off The Rock Road where her sister’s body was found. She visited the site for the first time just days before the 26th anniversary of the brutal murder of Donna Johnson.

Johnson case: Victim's sister, Becky Peterman

Posted by
Walter Geiger
in Crime
Tuesday, July 20. 2010
Comments (23)
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.

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#1 Anonymous on 07/20/10 at 06:17 PM
I would love to know what the 2005 investigation uncovered. What did they find when the body was exhumed? Anyone know?
#2 Anonymous on 07/20/10 at 10:17 PM
“In my opinion I know who is responsible for my sister’s death''

WHO???
#3 Anonymous on 07/21/10 at 05:28 AM
Sounds like there's a hint in the story that JJ could have been involved. Thoughts?
#4 Anon on 07/21/10 at 08:31 AM
If you are good a reading comprehension, she tells who she/everyone believes is responsible.
#5 Praying For Closure on 07/21/10 at 10:15 AM
I was a young child when Donna Johnson was killed but I remember hearing whispers in the Black community that she was killed in such a brutal manner because she befriended people in the Black community. She was not prejudiced and because she did not allow race to cloud her judgment of people, she was killed by White supremacists. That is what I remember.
#6 Let Us Get To The Truth For A Change on 07/21/10 at 10:37 AM
The overkill alone makes this a crime of passion. It would definitely be someone very close to her who is intimately involved with her. I mean, what are the chances of a random killer lying in wait at a dumpster (of all places) just to kill a random person in such a brutal manner? The overkill was because if she had lived, she would have been able to outright identify her killer. She was killed to be kept silent. Donna Johnson knew her killer(s) personally. It was not by chance that she crossed paths with a random killer and was killed in such a brutal and interpersonal manner. The overkill alone...and the fact that she was sexually brutalized with a foreign object could only mean that the person was sending her a very direct message that, "I own you!" This was not a random moment of violence. This was pre-meditated and she and she alone was the intended and target. Fifty million people could have went to that dumpster that day and would not have been touched. But Donna Johnson was brutally and fatally violated because she was the object of that person's malicious need to control her. Coward...coward...coward!
#7 Anonymous on 07/21/10 at 04:52 PM
There is alot of information here that definitely points in one direction. In the law enforcement world it would be called a "CLUE". There are alot of unanswered questions with this as I may have missed something but I am not aware of the answers, 1st question, why was a "niece by marriage" the first one to tell Donna's sister that she was missing? 2nd question, why was she reported missing at approx. 4pm during the day, how would you have known she was missing at that time?? 3rd question, Why did Donna's husband call her family to let them know by phone instead of going to their house that Donna's body had been found? 4th question, why did Donna's husband isolate himself and set seperately from her family at her funeral??????????
We have definitely failed as an entire community as we have sit back and allowed her killer(s) to remain free. We have had outside investigators come in and turn over evidence but still no Grand Jury?????
Walter, thanks to you that this even continues as it does now. You are in a position that the majority of us are not and you can persue this so please continue..... What will it take to get the DA's office to send this to the Grand Jury???????? Please let us know as a community what we need to do to get this to the Grand Jury. There are alot of us that would be willing to help if you would just let us know what to do. I certainly hope one of your stories comes from her then husband "Jimmy". So anxious to hear his side of the story, if he even has one.
#8 anin on 07/21/10 at 06:23 PM
have not heard that before
#9 Hope Spivey on 07/21/10 at 07:38 PM
I am a cousin of Becky and Donna, and I was just a teenager when Donna was killed so brutally. I remember how loving and beautiful Donna was and how her murder has hurt this entire family. Somehow with all of the speculations and different stories of who and why, we have forgotten one thing( I hope the killers read this and takes it to heart), The person who is responsible, and all involved in Donna's brutal murder can walk free for now, but My God will be your judge and he knows who you are as well as we all do, and you will not go unpunished, maybe in this life but your afterlife will be spent in hell suffering the same that you dished out to our beloved Donna. May God have mercy on your sole for you will need it in Hell.
#10 Anonymous on 07/21/10 at 08:21 PM
So, the bugs on her decomposing body show that the murder occurred prior to the timeline thought. Entomology IS a science! Certain bugs DO NOT show up in decomposition until certain points of time in the decomposition. This has been proven. Who was the last to see her that morning? Who said she left the house at that time?? Apparently they didn't know that little bitty bugs would tell the truth. I bet they knew the rain would be coming down and they planned it just right..dump before the rain can cause tracks but close enough to the rain for her to not be found before evidence washed away. And if all the sheriffs investigated this crime thoroughly, why did no one interview the first wife of Mr. Johnson?? Did they even look into the possibility?? If so, she would obviously be a person to check out. This makes no sense. The DAs decision to never take this to the grand jury once is stupid, especially with DNA found under the nails and the bug evidence. People are convicted everyday on circumstantial evidence. Entomology and DNA are NOT circumstantial evidence. I am interested to find out what bigs were found and who saw her last before the morning trash. I may have missed it.
#11 Anonymous on 07/21/10 at 09:08 PM
Control freaks are dangerous and women and the police should remember that.They control money, temperature, cars, pets, and everything else and sometimes kill as a final act of control.
#12 Anonymous on 07/22/10 at 11:55 AM
In 2005, 1,181 women were murdered by an intimate partner. That's an average of three women every day. Of all the women murdered in the U.S., about one-third were killed by an intimate partner. Despite whether the husband did it or not, he is an obvious person of interest just based on statistics. And to never interview his first wife? Why? Was she willing to talk?
#13 Anonymous on 07/22/10 at 12:34 PM
This is the south. It wasn't too long ago when it was common for men to beat their wives; even legal as long as the object wasn't too big. The woman's role was to raise the kids and keep the house and take care of the male bread winner. It's so common around here to see men control the check book, kill pets to terrorize, beat, be sexually dominate, and even rape their partners. Women go for help and the man always says, "oh, she's a liar. she's angry at me and she's doing this. I should never have gotten with this crazy woman." There is an attitude of "No violence, unless it's directed toward your intimate partner who is always there for you." Women, if you are being abused, take pictures of the injuries and give copies to your family. Document the abuse and actions with dates and times. Keep several copies of these items. Remember, you have a right to be safe. Self defense is legal.
#14 Anonymous on 07/22/10 at 01:59 PM
Amen. I can think of a case right now.
#15 Anonymous on 07/22/10 at 02:31 PM
Because he used the phone to call the family and didnt sit with the family is unusual but not a crime.
#16 Anonymous on 07/22/10 at 02:34 PM
How did you know about DNA and bug evidence? Was that in the paper edition?
#17 Anonymous on 07/22/10 at 06:29 PM
I think if there was DNA evidence it would be going to trial. Plain and simple. Just my opinion.
#18 Anonymous on 07/22/10 at 06:46 PM
I can too.
#19 Anonymous on 07/22/10 at 06:57 PM
It has been suggested/mentioned somewhere in the comments, I believe. People keep posting about what was found under the fingernails and Walter said to be patient. I figure if it's a fact and is in another installment later, it would be important. Am I wrong?
#20 Anonymous on 07/22/10 at 07:38 PM
Exactly, just what I said in the law world its called a "CLUE(S)". Sounds like a great place to start the investigation, dont ya think?
#21 Anonymous on 07/22/10 at 07:51 PM
BINGO, ding, ding, ding, we have a winner!
#22 Donna Jo on 07/25/10 at 10:27 PM
I'm in Pike County. I did take pictures of the trucks trying to run me off the road and the ones following me. I did my best to get the tag numbers. Since I didn't know who the people were, it was best to get pictures. When I thought I had enough to go to the law with, I went to the Sheriff. I reported all that I knew at the time.

With in a week or so my now Ex-husband repeated in a condensed version, in proper order everything I had reported.

This is a warning to women in this part of Georgia. If you want help you need to get the heck away from here to get it. The so called law around here covers and protects the man.

It doesn't matter what he has done in the past or even if he killed people before.

I'm still alive today no thanks to the so called law here. I went from one snake to another seeking help. Here evidence is nothing. But when I sent it else where they say it's attempted murder.

They are as crooked as they can be.

I said this before, I can almost bet Catoosa County wishes Tonya Craft's Ex had just killed her instead of helping him try to destroy her life and put her in prison. Now she's suing all of them for 25 million.

I can almost bet she didn't have a paper trail and witnesses to prove it.

Their lies fell apart in court.

I wonder if she owned property or something they were after and that's why they backed her Ex. Or he had a lot of pull and or money for them to go along with his lies.

The reason is I do own property. I've received threats. My personal property has been destroyed or stolen. My pets killed. My phone line tore out several times. My well switch messed with 3 or 4 different times so it run all the time. I caught the girl who was doing it, but I didn't know what she was up to. Put a new switch on and checked it regular for 2 weeks. About a month later they had done it again and burned up my pump. My above ground pool was stabbed several times.

My house was broke into several times, 6 that I know of. They tore the ceiling out of my daughters room.

They have tried to scare and intimidate me using anyone they can to scare me. Judges, and even a state rep. to knock me down at Home Depot. That was Mack Crawford.

I said this to the Sheriff in front of 20 something witnesses! I don't back up, I don't back down, and I don't back off. The answer to your question. (Shut up or get hurt)? I prefer to be cut or shot!

I had found my tom cat shot through his privates that morning.

I have no help!

I'm being punished for living. If you missed it, I was supposed to have been killed in a accident several years ago. Even after divorce I was almost blown up with a 500 gallon propane tank. Ironically at the time I had been with out propane for months and had to boil water to bath in.

His friends in high places make sure I don't work. That way I can't pay bills and taxes. In time I will lose everything. My cows were suppose to be a help not a livelihood. The last couple of years I've lived on less than 4 thousand dollars a year.

God's with me. I rather be me as bad as it gets, than those who get pleasure out of harming me. They don't seem to realize everything they do will come back to them.

I have a daughter, I love her very much. I can't do wrong because God will make you pay for what you do. He will go after what you love most. He said vengeance is his. He takes his own sweet time but he's a lot meaner than I ever thought of being.

Two words started this: I do! All heck broke loose after life insurance!
#23 Anonymous on 07/26/10 at 08:27 AM
Dont you think they know all of the CLUES???
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