The Pike County Journal-Reporter

Updated: Johnson case: Joe Buice, Chuck Keadle, Larry Waller

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Wednesday, July 28. 2010

Updated: About an hour ago

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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 »]

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

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Walter Geiger

in Crime

Monday, July 26. 2010

Updated: 1 day ago

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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 »]

Updated: Johnson Case: Rene Hood Chamblee

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Walter Geiger

in Crime

Friday, July 23. 2010

Updated: 1 day ago

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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 »]

Updated: Johnson case: The man who found Donna's body

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Walter Geiger

in Crime

Thursday, July 22. 2010

Updated: 2 days ago

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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 »]

Updated: Johnson case: Victim's sister, Becky Peterman

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Walter Geiger

in Crime

Tuesday, July 20. 2010

Updated: 5 days ago

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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

in Crime

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

in Crime

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, those in Pike and Lamar counties have remained largely in the dark as to how she died. [Full story »]

Mobile meth lab discovered

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Rachel McDaniel

in Top Stories

Friday, July 16. 2010

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Pike County sheriff's deputies discovered a mobile methamphetamine lab during a traffic stop July 15. [Full story »]

After 26 years, murder still haunts community

Posted by

Walter Geiger

in Crime

Monday, July 12. 2010

Comments (56)

The murder of Donna Johnson on July 16, 1984 changed Barnesville-Lamar County and the Vega Road/Piedmont community in Pike County for good.

Many began locking doors to their homes which had never before seen a latch.

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

Defendants squeezed by Georgia’s tight budget

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Staff Writer

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Tuesday, July 6. 2010

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By Adam Liptak
New York Times reporter

When the State of Georgia ran out of money to pay the lawyers for a man facing the death penalty, the prosecutor, of all people, had an idea. He asked the judge to appoint two overworked public defenders instead, identifying them by name. [Full story »]

Suspect in Molena armed robbery arrested

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Rachel McDaniel

in Crime

Wednesday, June 30. 2010

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A suspect has been arrested in the armed robbery of the Molena Food Mart on June 14 and is thought to be involved in several armed robberies in Upson County. The Molena gas station’s female clerk was held at gunpoint until money from the register was handed over. A regular customer ran the masked robber from the store and fired shots from his own weapon. Robert Tucker III was arrested and is being held at the Upson County jail. [Full story »]

Spalding deputy jailed for meth

Posted by

Walter Geiger

in Crime

Tuesday, June 29. 2010

Comments (25)

A Spalding County deputy assigned as a detention officer has been arrested for possession of methamphetamine and violation of oath of office. [Full story »]

Death of Concord man declared accidental

Posted by

Walter Geiger

in News

Friday, June 25. 2010

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A Concord man's death was declared accidental after preliminary autopsy results were released. Gary F. Verego, 54, was found dead at 11217 Hwy. 18 West in Concord just after 1 p.m. June 24 by a relative. [Full story »]

Tough customer runs robber from Molena store

Posted by

Rachel McDaniel

in Crime

Tuesday, June 15. 2010

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The Molena Food Mart gas station was robbed Monday night around 9:20 p.m. by a suspect wearing a mask and carrying a handgun. Shots were fired during the armed robbery, but not by the suspect. [Full story »]

Murder on Reid Road investigated

Posted by

Walter Geiger

in Crime

Tuesday, June 8. 2010

Comments (15)

Pike County investigators and agents from the GBI continue to follow leads in a Friday afternoon shooting that left one dead on Reid Road here. [Full story »]