(Michelle Johnson) Body of young mom kidnapped Sunday pulled from river
Patty
inaccessible by car, so her killer had to hike or use a boat to discard her body.
GUERNEVILLE
Town grieving for slain woman
Body of young mom kidnapped Sunday pulled from river
Pamela J. Podger,
San Francisco Chronicle Staff Writer
Saturday, March 20, 2004
Impromptu memorials sprang up in Guerneville on Friday as Sonoma County officials
confirmed that the body pulled from the Russian River was that of Michelle Johnson, the
32-year-old woman who disappeared from outside a bar early Sunday.
Farewell messages were entwined with candles and fresh roses at three separate places as
Johnson's family, friends and neighbors struggled to cope with the loss of the young
mother, who leaves behind an infant daughter and 8- year-old son.
"I am relieved that it is over, but now I have a sense of loss,'' said her father, Gene
Johnson, 51, of Forestville. "Whoever did this planned to rape or harm her -- if he had
any regard for human life, he would have let her out. He's an unremorseful sociopath.''
His daughter's body was removed from about two feet of river water, where it was barely
visible amid the trees, brush and other debris, at about 4:30 p. m. Thursday and
positively identified by fingerprints hours later.
"They pulled Michelle out of the river, and the sheriff's deputies came to my house at 2
a.m. this morning and verified it was her," Gene Johnson added. "I'm very sad that she is
dead. I hope they have enough evidence to convict this guy. I hope he gets the lethal
injection."
Stephanie Dong, Michelle's 21-year-old stepsister, said the family had started a fund to
help pay for the funeral and provide for her children.
"Michelle is such a wonderful mom and loved her kids so much," she said. "She's the best
mother."
She paused and thought about her sister's death.
"It's not fair," she said. "It's not fair."
The man suspected of killing her sister, Luke Clay Hasler, 34, an unemployed butcher,
remains on suicide watch at the Sonoma County jail. He is being held without bail on
felony charges of kidnapping and murder.
Hasler owns a wood-shingled cabin in a gated enclave not far from where Johnson's body was
found.
Sonoma Sheriff's Sgt. Steve Freitas said the area where Johnson's body was dumped is
inaccessible by car, so her killer had to hike or use a boat to discard her body.
Dive teams continued to examine the murky river Friday for more evidence. Freitas said
officials were confident they had arrested the right person but hadn't ruled out the
possibility of other suspects or accomplices.
Detectives also were pursuing reports about Hasler's behavior toward women, which
allegedly includes stalking a woman last summer in Guerneville.
In July 2002, his girlfriend got an emergency restraining order when, according to court
records, Hasler grabbed her throat and hair and destroyed her telephone. The two
apparently have reconciled, as Hasler was taken into custody Tuesday at her southeast
Santa Rosa home.
Sgt. Will Wallman of the coroner's office said Johnson had "died at the hands of another''
but wouldn't say whether there were any marks on Johnson's body that indicated how she had
died. He declined to specify the time of death or other autopsy details "to protect the
integrity of the investigation.''
Wallman said the results of a sexual assault test were expected next week, while
toxicology, DNA and homicide tests -- checking for illicit or prescription drugs or
alcohol -- could have results back by March 29.
About 75 to 100 people gathered in Guerneville Friday evening, holding candles in paper
cups and circulating jars to collect money for the family. Friends shared their
recollections of Michelle with newcomers and recited the Lord's Prayer.
"It shows the strength of this town that even strangers would come out for my daughter,"
said Dorothy Dong, Michelle's mother. "The community has been incredible, the police, the
sheriff, everyone."
Hugging a friend, she said, "Cherish every second, because it could all go."
Earlier in the day, Stephanie Strickland mourned the loss of her friend near one of the
impromptu memorials. A red, heart-shaped balloon bobbed in the wind as people left roses
and handwritten prayers. Several notes said the community would watch over Johnson's two
children, who are with their father, Johnson's former partner.
"She was a free spirit, who was happy and always had a smile on her face, '' Strickland
said. "She loved her kids so much. When she was abducted, I felt like a cannon had shot
through me. I'm glad they've found her because she is at peace now."
Another friend, Stacy Lormer, 24, said she had dropped Johnson off at the Bullpen bar
Sunday night, intending to pick her up later. She went home -- and a short time later
heard Johnson screaming as she straddled the tailgate of a red pickup truck, careening at
about 50 mph toward the coast.
Johnson reportedly had one drink at the bar then left alone, on foot, at 1:20 a.m.
"Michelle was very trusting, one of the most beautiful people ever -- inside and out,''
Lormer said.
Hasler's red Chevrolet pickup truck has been impounded by deputies.
Johnson's leather jacket and what authorities believe is her blood and one tooth were
found at the intersection of Cnopius Road, where by Friday two green taper candles and
silk roses lay in Johnson's memory.
Another friend, Emily Andretich, 48, said Friday that someone had driven near her river
home and cut their lights early Sunday.
Two days later, sheriff's detectives with cadaver dogs from Contra Costa and Lake counties
pulled in, and the dogs found a scent. Johnson's body was found 3 miles upstream.
"This is the river -- it's his backyard,'' Andretich said, referring to Hasler. "I'll miss
Michelle. She was an attentive mom. I'm just sorry that she went out for a few hours of
enjoyment and it ended in this awful way.''
Patty
March 20, 2004
By RANDI ROSSMANN and PAUL PAYNE
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Excerpt:
An autopsy was conducted Friday but authorities released no details beyond a statement
from District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua that Johnson "died at the hands of another."
Sources familiar with the investigation said her body was nude when it was pulled from the
river, and her long hair apparently had been cut. They also said she had head injuries.
Freitas said investigators were "saddened by the final outcome but pleased with the
progress of our case."
snip
Dong, who praised the deputies investigating her daughter's death, said she was told that
her daughter's body will need to remain at the county morgue into next week.
"They have to do what they have to do. I want them to do a good job," Dong said. "She's in
a safe place."
Coroner's Sgt. Will Wallman said the autopsy, conducted by the pathologist who handled the
Laci Peterson case, lasted four hours and was very complicated. He said the pathologist,
Dr. Brian Peterson, wants more information before ruling on the cause of death.
"There's more work to be done, more tests and further investigation," Wallman said.
After working through the night to identify Johnson, Freitas said, "Having the body is
obviously a huge step for us. It's going to make our case easier."
He said the investigation would be widened to look at Hasler's past, including claims that
he was violent with a former girlfriend.
Hasler is charged with killing Johnson during a kidnapping, a special circumstance that
could make him eligible for the death penalty.
He has yet to enter a plea, and is scheduled to make his next court appearance Tuesday.
tinydancer
"Patty" <aie...@iuyc.com> wrote in message
news:f0da8c2e32b1cc20...@news.teranews.com...
> Sorrow in Guerneville
> March 20, 2004
> By RANDI ROSSMANN and PAUL PAYNE
> THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
>
> Excerpt:
> An autopsy was conducted Friday but authorities released no details beyond
a statement
> from District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua that Johnson "died at the hands
of another."
>
>
> Sources familiar with the investigation said her body was nude when it was
pulled from the
> river, and her long hair apparently had been cut. They also said she had
head injuries.
>
> Hasler is charged with killing Johnson during a kidnapping, a special
circumstance that
> could make him eligible for the death penalty.
I hadn't been following this case Patty, but I hope the sucker fries for it.
Is it just me, or do there seem to be an awfully lot of cases of 'disposable
women'?
It always bothers me when women are 'used and thrown away, like garbage.'
td
Dawn
angry and deeply saddened. Thank you for the information you posted
Patty- there was new information contained in the longer article that
hadn't been mentioned by the many other media publications I had come
across so far.
much love to the Guernville community.