~~~~~ MY COUSIN'S HUSBAND ~~~~~
THE ELKHART TRUTH
DECEMBER 9, 1986
TUESDAY
PAGE B4
"OBITUARY"
Services for John J. A. Johnson, 22, of 2625 DeCamp Court, Elkhart, were this morning at the Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, Goshen. The Rev. Stuart Condiff of the Maple City Baptist Church officiated, with burial in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Mr. John died Thursday night (Dec. 4, 1986) and was found Saturday (Dec. 6, 1986) near Davis Lake, in Michigan.
He was born July 13, 1964, in Elkhart, and married Rebekah Jean Crume on June 15, 1984. She survives with one daughter Danielle; his parents, Warren and Donna Dixon, Elkhart; two brothers, Charles M., Elkhart and Steve A., Winter Park, Fla.; one sister, Mrs. Michael (Catherine) Eby, Goshen; a half sister, June Dixon, Monroe, Mich.; and six half brothers, Warren A. Dixon, Inverness, Fla., Ronald Dixon, Naples, Fla., William and Donald Dixon, both of Elkhart, Paul of Monroe, Mich., and Jerry Dixon of Washburn, Ill. One son, Christopher Johnson, is deceased.
Mr. Johnson was employed at the F&F Screw Machine Co. in Elkhart.
THE ELKHART TRUTH
JANURAY 30, 1987
FRIDAY
PAGE B4
THREE ARRESTED IN McNULTY MURDER
CASSOPOLIS - An Elkhart man whose body was found near Davis Lake last Dec. 6, was seen earlier in the company of the two men who are suspects in his death, according to testimony heard today.
Several witnesses testified this morning during a preliminary hearing in Class County District Court, the hearing is on murder charges which have been filed against John Joe Field, also of Elkhart. He is a suspect in the death of John Johnson, whom authorities believe was stabed to death the night of Dec. 4, 1986, or early on Dec. 5.
Fields is being held in Cass County while another Elkhart man, Ricky White, is being sought for questioning.
Robbery is believed to be a motive in Johnson's death, and a bank teller testfied this morning that she cashed a check for Johnson sometime before the murder. Another witness, Jake Simpson, said Fields had repaid a debt with three $20 bills, one of which appeared to have blood stains on it.
Under questioning by Prosecutor Susan Dobrich, William Kiefer Jr. of Elkhart said that Fields had asked him to say that Fields, Kiefer, White and Field's girlfriend, Connie Harter, were together the night of Dec. 4. Then, according to Kiefer, Fields asked him to say they dropped him (Fields) off some place.
Dobrich asked Kiefer why Fields wanted to change his story. "He was scared," said Kiefer. "He didn't do nothin' and didn't want to get blamed for nothin'."
Fields brother, Ricky Fields, of 632 W. Marion St., Elkhart, testified that his brother and White came to his house about 8:30 p.m. Dec. 4 to buy some cocaine, "but they didn't get any." Ricky Fields added that his brother told him that Johnson was in the car that night.
THE ELKHART TRUTH
JANURAY 31, 1987
SATURDAY
PAGE A5
FIELDS BOUND OVER ON MURDER CHARGE
CASSOPOLIS - A 24 year man Elkhart man was bound over to Cass County Circuit Court Friday on a charge of open murder.
John Joe Fields, 1521 Main St., was bound over by 4th District Judge Paul Deats. He will be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. Monday.
Fields was arrested in Gainesville, Fla., following the issuance of a warrant for his arrest in connection with the Dec. 4 stabbing death of John Johnson, 22, of 2625 DeCamp Count.
Prosecutor Susan Dobrich called nine witnesses Friday morning in the preliminary hearing continued fromDec. 30.
Dobrich elicited testimony tying Fields and Johnson together the night the victim was murdered. A third man, Ricky White, is being sought in connection with the incident.
Several witnesses, including the defendant's girlfriend and brother, testified saying the three men were together the night of the murder.
The crux of the prosecutor's argument for the bindover was the fact a syringe was found at the crime scene. Fields is a diabetic. Also, Robert fields, father of the defendant, told the judge he was cleaning out the apartment of another friend, William Keifer Jr., when he found two pairs of pants covered with blood in a brown bag. He turned the pants over to the Cass County sheriff's department.
The analysis of the stains on the pants has not come back from the state crime lab in Grand Rapids. But Det. Lt. Michael Garrison said later there was enough on the pants to allow for a good blood-type analysis.
Jake Simpson, who worked with Fields in Elkhart, told the court that on Friday, Dec. 5, Fields repaid a $45 dept with three $20 bills. When Simpson went home that night and was counting his money, he noticed that he had a $20 bill with some dark red stains on it. However, Simpson also said he had cashed his check that day and could not be sure the stained $20 was one given to him by Fields.
Johnson's body was found early Dec. 6 in a wooded area near Davis Lake just northeast of edwardsburg. He had been stabbed 16 times and robbery appeared to be the motive for the crime.
Johnson has just cashed a payroll check that afternoon, according to a bank teller at the First National Bank, Elkhart.
The crime came to light when 22 year old Scott Benedict called authorities on the 911 number and told them Ricky White had just shown him a body. Benedict is currently lodged in Cass County jail charged with accessory after the fact.
Fields and his girlfriend, Connie Harter, Ricky White and his previous girl friend, Toni Florentino and William Keifer Jr. all lived in the same Marion Street apartment house.
William LaBre, court appointed defense attorney, argued that there was no evidence presented placing his client at the scene of the crime. He also said the syringe could have belonged to anyone. He argued that Fields did notflee" when he made the trip to Florida, saying in order to flee a warrant must be issued.
Dobrich admitted her presentation was "all based on circumstantial evidence. But, all we have to prove is probabey cause'" she said.
On binding Fields over, Deats said, "Based on the totality of testimony, I do find a crime has been committed and I do find probable cause for charging the defendant on an open charge of murder." Fields remains lodged in the county jail.
THIS IS ALL THAT I HAVE, I'M NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS CASE.
~HIS WIFE REBEKAH JEAN CRUME IS MY COUSIN~
THE ELKHART TRUTH
DECEMBER 9, 1986
TUESDAY
PAGE B4
"OBITUARY"
Services for John J. A. Johnson, 22, of 2625 DeCamp Court, Elkhart, were this morning at the Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, Goshen. The Rev. Stuart Condiff of the Maple City Baptist Church officiated, with burial in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Mr. John died Thursday night (Dec. 4, 1986) and was found Saturday (Dec. 6, 1986) near Davis Lake, in Michigan.
He was born July 13, 1964, in Elkhart, and married Rebekah Jean Crume on June 15, 1984. She survives with one daughter Danielle; his parents, Warren and Donna Dixon, Elkhart; two brothers, Charles M., Elkhart and Steve A., Winter Park, Fla.; one sister, Mrs. Michael (Catherine) Eby, Goshen; a half sister, June Dixon, Monroe, Mich.; and six half brothers, Warren A. Dixon, Inverness, Fla., Ronald Dixon, Naples, Fla., William and Donald Dixon, both of Elkhart, Paul of Monroe, Mich., and Jerry Dixon of Washburn, Ill. One son, Christopher Johnson, is deceased.
Mr. Johnson was employed at the F&F Screw Machine Co. in Elkhart.
THE ELKHART TRUTH
JANURAY 30, 1987
FRIDAY
PAGE B4
THREE ARRESTED IN McNULTY MURDER
CASSOPOLIS - An Elkhart man whose body was found near Davis Lake last Dec. 6, was seen earlier in the company of the two men who are suspects in his death, according to testimony heard today.
Several witnesses testified this morning during a preliminary hearing in Class County District Court, the hearing is on murder charges which have been filed against John Joe Field, also of Elkhart. He is a suspect in the death of John Johnson, whom authorities believe was stabed to death the night of Dec. 4, 1986, or early on Dec. 5.
Fields is being held in Cass County while another Elkhart man, Ricky White, is being sought for questioning.
Robbery is believed to be a motive in Johnson's death, and a bank teller testfied this morning that she cashed a check for Johnson sometime before the murder. Another witness, Jake Simpson, said Fields had repaid a debt with three $20 bills, one of which appeared to have blood stains on it.
Under questioning by Prosecutor Susan Dobrich, William Kiefer Jr. of Elkhart said that Fields had asked him to say that Fields, Kiefer, White and Field's girlfriend, Connie Harter, were together the night of Dec. 4. Then, according to Kiefer, Fields asked him to say they dropped him (Fields) off some place.
Dobrich asked Kiefer why Fields wanted to change his story. "He was scared," said Kiefer. "He didn't do nothin' and didn't want to get blamed for nothin'."
Fields brother, Ricky Fields, of 632 W. Marion St., Elkhart, testified that his brother and White came to his house about 8:30 p.m. Dec. 4 to buy some cocaine, "but they didn't get any." Ricky Fields added that his brother told him that Johnson was in the car that night.
THE ELKHART TRUTH
JANURAY 31, 1987
SATURDAY
PAGE A5
FIELDS BOUND OVER ON MURDER CHARGE
CASSOPOLIS - A 24 year man Elkhart man was bound over to Cass County Circuit Court Friday on a charge of open murder.
John Joe Fields, 1521 Main St., was bound over by 4th District Judge Paul Deats. He will be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. Monday.
Fields was arrested in Gainesville, Fla., following the issuance of a warrant for his arrest in connection with the Dec. 4 stabbing death of John Johnson, 22, of 2625 DeCamp Count.
Prosecutor Susan Dobrich called nine witnesses Friday morning in the preliminary hearing continued fromDec. 30.
Dobrich elicited testimony tying Fields and Johnson together the night the victim was murdered. A third man, Ricky White, is being sought in connection with the incident.
Several witnesses, including the defendant's girlfriend and brother, testified saying the three men were together the night of the murder.
The crux of the prosecutor's argument for the bindover was the fact a syringe was found at the crime scene. Fields is a diabetic. Also, Robert fields, father of the defendant, told the judge he was cleaning out the apartment of another friend, William Keifer Jr., when he found two pairs of pants covered with blood in a brown bag. He turned the pants over to the Cass County sheriff's department.
The analysis of the stains on the pants has not come back from the state crime lab in Grand Rapids. But Det. Lt. Michael Garrison said later there was enough on the pants to allow for a good blood-type analysis.
Jake Simpson, who worked with Fields in Elkhart, told the court that on Friday, Dec. 5, Fields repaid a $45 dept with three $20 bills. When Simpson went home that night and was counting his money, he noticed that he had a $20 bill with some dark red stains on it. However, Simpson also said he had cashed his check that day and could not be sure the stained $20 was one given to him by Fields.
Johnson's body was found early Dec. 6 in a wooded area near Davis Lake just northeast of edwardsburg. He had been stabbed 16 times and robbery appeared to be the motive for the crime.
Johnson has just cashed a payroll check that afternoon, according to a bank teller at the First National Bank, Elkhart.
The crime came to light when 22 year old Scott Benedict called authorities on the 911 number and told them Ricky White had just shown him a body. Benedict is currently lodged in Cass County jail charged with accessory after the fact.
Fields and his girlfriend, Connie Harter, Ricky White and his previous girl friend, Toni Florentino and William Keifer Jr. all lived in the same Marion Street apartment house.
William LaBre, court appointed defense attorney, argued that there was no evidence presented placing his client at the scene of the crime. He also said the syringe could have belonged to anyone. He argued that Fields did notflee" when he made the trip to Florida, saying in order to flee a warrant must be issued.
Dobrich admitted her presentation was "all based on circumstantial evidence. But, all we have to prove is probabey cause'" she said.
On binding Fields over, Deats said, "Based on the totality of testimony, I do find a crime has been committed and I do find probable cause for charging the defendant on an open charge of murder." Fields remains lodged in the county jail.
THIS IS ALL THAT I HAVE, I'M NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS CASE.
~HIS WIFE REBEKAH JEAN CRUME IS MY COUSIN~
~~~~~ MY COUSIN'S HUSBAND ~~~~~
THE ELKHART TRUTH
DECEMBER 9, 1986
TUESDAY
PAGE B4
"OBITUARY"
Services for John J. A. Johnson, 22, of 2625 DeCamp Court, Elkhart, were this morning at the Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, Goshen. The Rev. Stuart Condiff of the Maple City Baptist Church officiated, with burial in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Mr. John died Thursday night (Dec. 4, 1986) and was found Saturday (Dec. 6, 1986) near Davis Lake, in Michigan.
He was born July 13, 1964, in Elkhart, and married Rebekah Jean Crume on June 15, 1984. She survives with one daughter Danielle; his parents, Warren and Donna Dixon, Elkhart; two brothers, Charles M., Elkhart and Steve A., Winter Park, Fla.; one sister, Mrs. Michael (Catherine) Eby, Goshen; a half sister, June Dixon, Monroe, Mich.; and six half brothers, Warren A. Dixon, Inverness, Fla., Ronald Dixon, Naples, Fla., William and Donald Dixon, both of Elkhart, Paul of Monroe, Mich., and Jerry Dixon of Washburn, Ill. One son, Christopher Johnson, is deceased.
Mr. Johnson was employed at the F&F Screw Machine Co. in Elkhart.
THE ELKHART TRUTH
JANURAY 30, 1987
FRIDAY
PAGE B4
THREE ARRESTED IN McNULTY MURDER
CASSOPOLIS - An Elkhart man whose body was found near Davis Lake last Dec. 6, was seen earlier in the company of the two men who are suspects in his death, according to testimony heard today.
Several witnesses testified this morning during a preliminary hearing in Class County District Court, the hearing is on murder charges which have been filed against John Joe Field, also of Elkhart. He is a suspect in the death of John Johnson, whom authorities believe was stabed to death the night of Dec. 4, 1986, or early on Dec. 5.
Fields is being held in Cass County while another Elkhart man, Ricky White, is being sought for questioning.
Robbery is believed to be a motive in Johnson's death, and a bank teller testfied this morning that she cashed a check for Johnson sometime before the murder. Another witness, Jake Simpson, said Fields had repaid a debt with three $20 bills, one of which appeared to have blood stains on it.
Under questioning by Prosecutor Susan Dobrich, William Kiefer Jr. of Elkhart said that Fields had asked him to say that Fields, Kiefer, White and Field's girlfriend, Connie Harter, were together the night of Dec. 4. Then, according to Kiefer, Fields asked him to say they dropped him (Fields) off some place.
Dobrich asked Kiefer why Fields wanted to change his story. "He was scared," said Kiefer. "He didn't do nothin' and didn't want to get blamed for nothin'."
Fields brother, Ricky Fields, of 632 W. Marion St., Elkhart, testified that his brother and White came to his house about 8:30 p.m. Dec. 4 to buy some cocaine, "but they didn't get any." Ricky Fields added that his brother told him that Johnson was in the car that night.
THE ELKHART TRUTH
JANURAY 31, 1987
SATURDAY
PAGE A5
FIELDS BOUND OVER ON MURDER CHARGE
CASSOPOLIS - A 24 year man Elkhart man was bound over to Cass County Circuit Court Friday on a charge of open murder.
John Joe Fields, 1521 Main St., was bound over by 4th District Judge Paul Deats. He will be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. Monday.
Fields was arrested in Gainesville, Fla., following the issuance of a warrant for his arrest in connection with the Dec. 4 stabbing death of John Johnson, 22, of 2625 DeCamp Count.
Prosecutor Susan Dobrich called nine witnesses Friday morning in the preliminary hearing continued fromDec. 30.
Dobrich elicited testimony tying Fields and Johnson together the night the victim was murdered. A third man, Ricky White, is being sought in connection with the incident.
Several witnesses, including the defendant's girlfriend and brother, testified saying the three men were together the night of the murder.
The crux of the prosecutor's argument for the bindover was the fact a syringe was found at the crime scene. Fields is a diabetic. Also, Robert fields, father of the defendant, told the judge he was cleaning out the apartment of another friend, William Keifer Jr., when he found two pairs of pants covered with blood in a brown bag. He turned the pants over to the Cass County sheriff's department.
The analysis of the stains on the pants has not come back from the state crime lab in Grand Rapids. But Det. Lt. Michael Garrison said later there was enough on the pants to allow for a good blood-type analysis.
Jake Simpson, who worked with Fields in Elkhart, told the court that on Friday, Dec. 5, Fields repaid a $45 dept with three $20 bills. When Simpson went home that night and was counting his money, he noticed that he had a $20 bill with some dark red stains on it. However, Simpson also said he had cashed his check that day and could not be sure the stained $20 was one given to him by Fields.
Johnson's body was found early Dec. 6 in a wooded area near Davis Lake just northeast of edwardsburg. He had been stabbed 16 times and robbery appeared to be the motive for the crime.
Johnson has just cashed a payroll check that afternoon, according to a bank teller at the First National Bank, Elkhart.
The crime came to light when 22 year old Scott Benedict called authorities on the 911 number and told them Ricky White had just shown him a body. Benedict is currently lodged in Cass County jail charged with accessory after the fact.
Fields and his girlfriend, Connie Harter, Ricky White and his previous girl friend, Toni Florentino and William Keifer Jr. all lived in the same Marion Street apartment house.
William LaBre, court appointed defense attorney, argued that there was no evidence presented placing his client at the scene of the crime. He also said the syringe could have belonged to anyone. He argued that Fields did notflee" when he made the trip to Florida, saying in order to flee a warrant must be issued.
Dobrich admitted her presentation was "all based on circumstantial evidence. But, all we have to prove is probabey cause'" she said.
On binding Fields over, Deats said, "Based on the totality of testimony, I do find a crime has been committed and I do find probable cause for charging the defendant on an open charge of murder." Fields remains lodged in the county jail.
THIS IS ALL THAT I HAVE, I'M NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS CASE.
~HIS WIFE REBEKAH JEAN CRUME IS MY COUSIN~
THE ELKHART TRUTH
DECEMBER 9, 1986
TUESDAY
PAGE B4
"OBITUARY"
Services for John J. A. Johnson, 22, of 2625 DeCamp Court, Elkhart, were this morning at the Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, Goshen. The Rev. Stuart Condiff of the Maple City Baptist Church officiated, with burial in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Mr. John died Thursday night (Dec. 4, 1986) and was found Saturday (Dec. 6, 1986) near Davis Lake, in Michigan.
He was born July 13, 1964, in Elkhart, and married Rebekah Jean Crume on June 15, 1984. She survives with one daughter Danielle; his parents, Warren and Donna Dixon, Elkhart; two brothers, Charles M., Elkhart and Steve A., Winter Park, Fla.; one sister, Mrs. Michael (Catherine) Eby, Goshen; a half sister, June Dixon, Monroe, Mich.; and six half brothers, Warren A. Dixon, Inverness, Fla., Ronald Dixon, Naples, Fla., William and Donald Dixon, both of Elkhart, Paul of Monroe, Mich., and Jerry Dixon of Washburn, Ill. One son, Christopher Johnson, is deceased.
Mr. Johnson was employed at the F&F Screw Machine Co. in Elkhart.
THE ELKHART TRUTH
JANURAY 30, 1987
FRIDAY
PAGE B4
THREE ARRESTED IN McNULTY MURDER
CASSOPOLIS - An Elkhart man whose body was found near Davis Lake last Dec. 6, was seen earlier in the company of the two men who are suspects in his death, according to testimony heard today.
Several witnesses testified this morning during a preliminary hearing in Class County District Court, the hearing is on murder charges which have been filed against John Joe Field, also of Elkhart. He is a suspect in the death of John Johnson, whom authorities believe was stabed to death the night of Dec. 4, 1986, or early on Dec. 5.
Fields is being held in Cass County while another Elkhart man, Ricky White, is being sought for questioning.
Robbery is believed to be a motive in Johnson's death, and a bank teller testfied this morning that she cashed a check for Johnson sometime before the murder. Another witness, Jake Simpson, said Fields had repaid a debt with three $20 bills, one of which appeared to have blood stains on it.
Under questioning by Prosecutor Susan Dobrich, William Kiefer Jr. of Elkhart said that Fields had asked him to say that Fields, Kiefer, White and Field's girlfriend, Connie Harter, were together the night of Dec. 4. Then, according to Kiefer, Fields asked him to say they dropped him (Fields) off some place.
Dobrich asked Kiefer why Fields wanted to change his story. "He was scared," said Kiefer. "He didn't do nothin' and didn't want to get blamed for nothin'."
Fields brother, Ricky Fields, of 632 W. Marion St., Elkhart, testified that his brother and White came to his house about 8:30 p.m. Dec. 4 to buy some cocaine, "but they didn't get any." Ricky Fields added that his brother told him that Johnson was in the car that night.
THE ELKHART TRUTH
JANURAY 31, 1987
SATURDAY
PAGE A5
FIELDS BOUND OVER ON MURDER CHARGE
CASSOPOLIS - A 24 year man Elkhart man was bound over to Cass County Circuit Court Friday on a charge of open murder.
John Joe Fields, 1521 Main St., was bound over by 4th District Judge Paul Deats. He will be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. Monday.
Fields was arrested in Gainesville, Fla., following the issuance of a warrant for his arrest in connection with the Dec. 4 stabbing death of John Johnson, 22, of 2625 DeCamp Count.
Prosecutor Susan Dobrich called nine witnesses Friday morning in the preliminary hearing continued fromDec. 30.
Dobrich elicited testimony tying Fields and Johnson together the night the victim was murdered. A third man, Ricky White, is being sought in connection with the incident.
Several witnesses, including the defendant's girlfriend and brother, testified saying the three men were together the night of the murder.
The crux of the prosecutor's argument for the bindover was the fact a syringe was found at the crime scene. Fields is a diabetic. Also, Robert fields, father of the defendant, told the judge he was cleaning out the apartment of another friend, William Keifer Jr., when he found two pairs of pants covered with blood in a brown bag. He turned the pants over to the Cass County sheriff's department.
The analysis of the stains on the pants has not come back from the state crime lab in Grand Rapids. But Det. Lt. Michael Garrison said later there was enough on the pants to allow for a good blood-type analysis.
Jake Simpson, who worked with Fields in Elkhart, told the court that on Friday, Dec. 5, Fields repaid a $45 dept with three $20 bills. When Simpson went home that night and was counting his money, he noticed that he had a $20 bill with some dark red stains on it. However, Simpson also said he had cashed his check that day and could not be sure the stained $20 was one given to him by Fields.
Johnson's body was found early Dec. 6 in a wooded area near Davis Lake just northeast of edwardsburg. He had been stabbed 16 times and robbery appeared to be the motive for the crime.
Johnson has just cashed a payroll check that afternoon, according to a bank teller at the First National Bank, Elkhart.
The crime came to light when 22 year old Scott Benedict called authorities on the 911 number and told them Ricky White had just shown him a body. Benedict is currently lodged in Cass County jail charged with accessory after the fact.
Fields and his girlfriend, Connie Harter, Ricky White and his previous girl friend, Toni Florentino and William Keifer Jr. all lived in the same Marion Street apartment house.
William LaBre, court appointed defense attorney, argued that there was no evidence presented placing his client at the scene of the crime. He also said the syringe could have belonged to anyone. He argued that Fields did notflee" when he made the trip to Florida, saying in order to flee a warrant must be issued.
Dobrich admitted her presentation was "all based on circumstantial evidence. But, all we have to prove is probabey cause'" she said.
On binding Fields over, Deats said, "Based on the totality of testimony, I do find a crime has been committed and I do find probable cause for charging the defendant on an open charge of murder." Fields remains lodged in the county jail.
THIS IS ALL THAT I HAVE, I'M NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS CASE.
~HIS WIFE REBEKAH JEAN CRUME IS MY COUSIN~
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