Johnson Case: Rene Hood Chamblee

The Pike County Journal-Reporter

Rene Hood Chamblee worked for both the LCSO and GBI.

Johnson Case: Rene Hood Chamblee

Posted by

Walter Geiger

in Crime and Arrests

Friday, July 23. 2010

Comments (8)

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.

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#1 Anonymous on 07/23/10 at 06:26 PM

''(About) 30 to 40 suspects arose from tips gathered from hotlines and possible witnesses.'

wonder if any of them were questioned?
Talking about new technology, is anyone ever going to use it for THIS case??

Is anyone opening up this case again, or is it still closed??

#1.1 Anonymous on 07/23/10 at 07:07 PM

It's open. You should always start with the last person to see her alive.

#2 Anonymous on 07/25/10 at 03:58 PM

Pike people sure are quiet about this case.

#2.1 Meansville Militia on 07/25/10 at 10:48 PM

We've been quiet for good reason. Lets see it was bout 2yrs ago the case was opened again by some cold case guru.Rumor has it a couple of polygraphs were given. Channel 2 sent a reporter down inferring an imminent arrest that would shock everyone. Then nothing....This case and the one of the little girl north of Zebulon. They werent that far apart in terms of time. They hang round the neck of Pike County like a millstone. Unsolved murders. Mistakes were made processing the scene. Pre CSI folks

#2.1.1 Anonymous on 07/26/10 at 12:41 PM

Apparently there is evidence that point in one direction and disputes statements made by certain people. This has been rumors, of course, but it seems to be true based on the statements of those close to this case.

I have heard a lot about mistakes being made early on. We all forget that it is the defense's job to contest evidence during trial. Are we going to have to wait until these suspect die before the community knows exactly what happened??

#2.1.2 voter on 07/26/10 at 01:57 PM

Ok, well after recovering so much evidence, maybe someone expected somebody to do something about it. They didn't release all of the evidence to the public back then though, so we didn't really get to give our full opinion as to if this should go to a grand jury. Maybe we will learn all of the information this time and make the decision FOR our elected officials. Whom, might I add, are working for the voters of the district. The more I hear about the "supposed" evidence which NO ONE will confirm or deny, the more I am forming an opinion that there is good enough evidence to at least get this case to trial. If a judge throws out some evidence, well, we deal with that at that point. Murder cases are won on circumstantial evidence alone everyday. Think of the Lacy Peterson case. There was NO physical evidence.

As a voter, I want to know why, after 26 years, they are not telling us what they have. They have the power to make that decision if Donna's sister agrees. There was a serial killer case not too long ago where the cops released most of the evidence as it was being recovered and requested tips from anyone that could tell them ANYTHING. Guess what, that killer is in jail.

If this was your daughter who was hog-tied, sexually brutalized, beaten and dumped, would you want the community to fight for her? Just imagine the brutality of the person who could do this to somebody. Imagine what things this person has probably done to others and the things he could be doing to someone NOW.

Put his butt in jail with no bond and maybe people will feel safer and they might tell you something more if they know they will be protected.

So, it seems the ball is in someone's court at this point. Is someone going to pick it up or just let it slowly stop bouncing again?

#3 locked doors? on 07/26/10 at 01:11 PM

I have never heard that the car was locked.{"Donna Johnson died hard" story} This is interesting because it is possible that Donna was abducted from the dump and the doors ended up locked. I personally don't believe she was taken from the dump....

If the scene was staged to look like she was taken from the dump, It seems that the person/persons fouled this up. why would you take the keys and lock the doors? Doesn't smell right to me...

what if there was more than one person? they could have took Donna and her car, dropped the car off at the dump with plans on retrieving it later to dispose of it well away from the crime scene. they almost got caught placing Donna's body and could not go back to retrieve the car.

just some of my thoughts because I never heard about the locked doors....

#4 anon on 07/27/10 at 01:57 PM

I know it may seem silly, but has anyone ever thought of calling in a really good psychic.
It wouldn't hurt to try. I hear they have helped solve several crimes.I didn't live here when this happened,but it sure sounds terrible what happened to this girl.

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