Latest Headlines
- ‘It’s A Blessing’ – Volunteers Build Wheelchair Ramp For Molino Veteran
- Cantonment Man Charged With Stealing Metal From Church During Service Hours
- Undocumented Farm Worker, 45, Gets 25 Years For Attempted Sexual Battery Of 11-Year Old In Walnut Hill
- Bratt, Byrneville Elementary Students Create Winning EREC Meeting Promo Posters
- Make-A-Wish Grants Wish For Girl, 4, With A Barbie Camper
- Fields Of Faith: Community Worship Service Held At Northview High
- Missing Child Alert Issued For Alabama Teen
- 63 New Members Inducted Into Northview High Beta Club
- Blue Wahoos School Shuckers On Education Day
- 2-Month-Old Passes Away Following Escambia County Wreck
Exclusive: Baby Killer Set To Be Executed, Baby’s Mom Speaks Out
October 17, 2011
[Exclusive] A convicted Atmore baby killer is set to be executed Thursday, and the mother of the baby is speaking out for the first time about the murder of her 6-month old son and the death penalty to be carried out against her husband.
Christopher Thomas Johnson is scheduled to be put to death at 6 p.m. Thursday at Holman Prison in Atmore. He testified that he purposefully beat his son, Elias Ocean Johnson, to death on February 20, 2005, because he hated his wife Dana Johnson.
“Thursday I will be granted closure finally,” Dana Johnson told NorthEscambia.com in an exclusive interview. “Although I normally do not agree with capital punishment, I will not lose any sleep over this particular execution. Whether it is right or wrong I feel that a weight will be lifted from my soul on Thursday, and finally I will feel relief.”
“You go see Jesus,” were the last words Christopher Johnson said to his son, he testified at his trial, before beating him to death.
Those words have unimaginably haunted Dana Johnson for over six years. She’s rarely spoken about the murder, and is sharing photos of Elias for the first-time ever in this story.
“My son was the most delightful calm little boy I have ever known. Christopher Johnson took him from me. I have spent years trying to heal from this unimaginable pain,” Dana Johnson said. “I am scarred by this, and Christopher took away my son, my trust in other people, and even my desire to ever have another child. I still have a hard time being around children because of the sorrow it makes me feel. Everyday I see children that are Elias’ age, and I wonder what he would have been like.”
Dana Johnson won’t be able to attend Thursday’s execution. She now lives far from Atmore in the western United States where she is studying to become a nurse.
“I can tell you one thing, Thursday will be a day of closure for me, whether that is wrong or right. I curse the day that I met that man,” Dana Johnson said, adding that she feels sorry that Atmore is associated with this heinous crime.
“I am sorry that the people of Atmore, myself, and my son had to be subjected to this horrible crime. The people of Atmore were some of the kindest and most welcoming people I have ever met,” she said.
Christopher Johnson fired his public defenders and served as his own attorney during his 2006 Escambia County trial, telling the judge and jury that he wanted the death penalty for his actions. It took the jury less than a half hour to return a guilty verdict, and the death penalty was imposed. The death sentence has been upheld by the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, and Christopher Johnson has, to date, declined additional appeals.
Pictured: Christopher Thomas Johnson is scheduled to be executed Thursday for the murder of this little boy, Elias Ocean Johnson, back in 2005 in Atmore. This is the first time these photos of Elias Johnson have ever been published. NorthEscambia.com exclusive, click to enlarge.
Comments
45 Responses to “Exclusive: Baby Killer Set To Be Executed, Baby’s Mom Speaks Out”
I thought I was anti-death penalty. I still am. But as a father and as a citizen of earth, I feel no sympathy for Christopher Thomas Johnson. He gave up his status as a human being when he took that innocent boy’s life. A staunch death penalty opponent, I cannot deny that this man deserved to die. Let him answer to God for what he did.
the world is full of evil doers but the evil inside this man is unbelievable and execution is not good enough for him he needs to suffer. a long time before hes put out of his misery. my heart and prayers go out to his mother.
I have had the absolute pleasure of meeting Dana. She is a beautiful person inside and out. She is truely amazing! Maintaining such strength and compassion throughout this and much more is to be admired. She inspires me to give my very best. She is selfless and full of life. Dana opened her home for my boyfriend who didn’t have anywhere to go and for that I will be forever grateful. He is now inside the gates of heaven with Elias relieved of pain and sorrow. From the first day I met Dana I knew I had been blessed to have known such a beautiful soul. Dana is proof that there are angels amongst us here on earth.
As far as the poor excuse of a human being, all I have to say is he will have to answer to God and he will send him to his rightful place in the fires of hell.
RIP sweet baby. I just can’t imagine….
Dear Dana, May you find peace in your life by knowing that one day you will be reunited with your sweet baby boy. From this day forward let us remember little Elias Ocean and erase from our memory the person who took his life. I am now going to little Rachel Beckwith’s Birthday Wish site to donate $54 dollars in your son’s name for each month he lived on this earth to help benefit providing clean water to children in poor communities around the world. This donation will see that at least one child will have clean water for life in the name of your son. It is a befitting tribute making something good to come out of such a sad horrifying act. Please have hope for the future and don’t let that guy take one more moment of your peace. May the dear Lord give you strength to overcome this tragedy. God bless you!
@anonymous1 — you are crazy!! He genuinely wanted to kill his child!! He watched the life drain out of him. It wasn’t an accident. His last words were “Game Over”…yea that sounds like a born again believer to me…LOL I seriously doubt I will be seeing him playing with his son!!! That just makes me sick to even think about that. I do believe however that he will see his son standing beside Jesus when he dies. He will see his son healed, perfect, and absolutely ALIVE! He will then have sorrow in his heart. and fear for what is to come.
And YES, we as Christians are suppose to judge others. When you tell someone they are sinning…that is judging. We are suppose to point out our faults with other believers. That is how we help each other. I am so sick of everybody saying…”Don’t judge.” We are NOT to judge when we ourselves committing sin. Everyone will be judged. and this sick man will be too.
Precious Baby, This evil monster will have to answer to God for what he did, and there wont be any excuses there, he will remember what he did to this baby for eternity… evil begets evil
Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.
Psalm 137:9 – King James Version
As I go about my life I am thinking that in 8 minutes Christopher Johnson will be no more. Lady Justice and the People have spoken. I pray Ms Johnson, this will give a degree of closure, to a hurt that will never heal, I will say a prayer for Christopher Johnson’s soul and one for my own.
a reminder… this man has extended family they have feelings and they deserve respect and privacy .
a reminder…again…. the Lord says judge not lest ye be judged.
God reserves the privilege to judge and forgive….if this man has asked the Lord for forgiveness then so it be!…dont be surprised when you see this man in Heaven playing with his son!!!
Justice will finally be served…& you can R/I/P sweet angel boy.
I can tell you that I know this man and I get to meet his wife and son a few times. What beautiful people they are. Chris on the other hand is getting his day tomorrow. I am totally heartbroken over this whole thing. May this baby rest in peace now
By the way ………….he is buried up in Cantonment Florida off of Kings Field Road behind the Wendy’s at Jordan Cemetery. The family is poor and couldn’t give him a proper burial so he is just there with no head stone, just a few rocks around him. He has other relatives there that are the same way.
It doesn’t really matter how he dies; I in fact wish him to be beat to death, but what he is fixing to face, nobody,….nobody has ever witnessed. He will be in torment for eternity. Torment that you or I can not fathom. This brings comfort to me……I am sure he is frightened. If he’s not…when he sees Jesus, he will indeed be frightened….and it will be too late. That baby boy is beautiful. My son is 8 months old now, and I can’t imagine living one second without him in my life. May God give this mother peace and comfort and may she realize that He is the only one who can. May she have comfort that her baby is with Jesus and that he is running on the streets of gold, singing with the angels, and praising God everyday……
may our GOD be with them all . All I can say I know this case oh to well, That baby would have been near 5 yr old now if I am right and my grand son and him was near the same age. My GOD have mercey on them all.
This is a horriblee storyy. How culd a person do this to their own child.?? It is disgustingg tht a person culd live with themself after suchh a thingg.! R.I.p. lil guy.
My prayers are with this poor woman during this time. I won’t even pretend
I understand the level of her pain. The whole thing is unimaginable.
Don’t think for a moment we do not see this all the time. Every time someone
does not pay their child support they are in fact beating the stuffing’s out of
their children in order to not hand the dreaded X-wife money. They are
in fact not caring if their children get any of the basis necessities of life.
Only rich divorcees actually can live like an heiress on child support, and
I personally don’t know any in Escambia County. Most of these men
have never tried to support a child till adulthood and have no idea what
it takes. This is just money, what does all this say to our children, a father
who will not pay for their food or housing, like they are not devastated
enough that their parents are not together. Let’s all not forget the man also who threw 4 of his children off the bridge, and there are more I don’t want carry on about. Please every one, put aside your differences for the sake of your children and be the better man or woman.
Maybe everyone should just work hard to preserve the sanctity of marriage
and the homes of your children.
I never knew this scum bag and hope i never meet anyone like him.I hate him and look forward to hearing he has been put to death.
This is EXACTLY why we have the death penalty. It’s amazing to me how, someone can change their mind about the death penalty when it THEIR child or LOVED ONE that is killed by a MONSTER!! Hope he is SCARED TO DEATH over it and his last moments are MISERABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rest in Peace little one…..God Please hold this child in the palm of your hands….
Heartbreaking, it is so devastating that all these innocent babies and toddlers are being harmed or worse by the people they trust the most, their parents. I do not understand how a person could stand over a innocent baby like that and do the unthinkable.
Well finally 6yrs and 8mths after this animal murdered my beautiful Grandson Elias justice will be done! It drove me crazy to know for the last 6+ years he was able to eat and sleep while my little Elias was not even able to celebrate one single birthday. We never got to hear his first word or see his first tooth! I have never even used Elias Oceans last name because of such disgust of his father. Christopher Johnson may you burn in hell! Your judgement day is Thursday!
I think everone should be treated the same . Say they drown somrone they should be drown . They burn someone they should be burned
This man should not have been allowed to live one day after he murdered that precious baby much less six years.
The Guillotine with Mr. Christoper Baby Killer facing the blade. That’s about the same
as he did for this little angel.
Thursday cant get here fast enough what a great day it will be when he is gone……….would be even better if he had to suffer!!!!!
He looked like a very handsome & happy boy. It is a terrible shame that this father couldn’t see what I can see in this child. To do something like this just out of hate for his (wife at the time) is absolutely horrible.
this is horrible i have a 3 month old daughter i dont know how neone could hurt a child he deserves worse than what he is getting….this child suffered for nothing he was innocent….this man makes me sick…i hope the mother gets peace its not her fault its the mans she deserves to have another child i hope she doesnt give up completly….
Fire old sparky up and let’s get it on.
The innocent child passed into Heaven to be with Jesus and Family. Christopher Johnson’s issues only become worse after death. How can he explain to God what he has done? Final judgement belongs to our creator. Mr. Johnson’s torment is about to begin.
I think all executions should be electric chair, hanging, firing squad, etc. Lethal injections are for cowards that think these barbarians deserve any consideration when it comes to cruel and unusual punishment. They don’t deserve any less pain and anguish than they dished out.
I wonder where little Elias is interred. I would like to place some flowers on his grave.
I don’t like this clean slate idea in christianity. All sins forgiven all the time. It’s pretty much what turned me from the church. I’m an Irish Catholic man, as for this guy, he’s a scumbag who is gonna die better than his son. I despise him and he deserves everything he gets.
This is a SAD, SAD, horrible story….Bless the Mother’s heart….& all of that sweet baby’s family! What also bothers me, is the words he said after he beat that sweet baby to death…”You go see Jesus!”….I cannot even concieve how someone who knows that sweet baby was going to be w/his wonderful CREATOR, free from pain and torture…can even let the precious name of JESUS come from his lips? If he has the good sense to even know that this baby was going to HEAVEN, how in God’s creation, could he NOT know what he was doing was horrific? I just can’t do anything but shake my head…..
Dana, I am praying for you. I am praying that you find some peace at some point and that God restores what this monster took from you. I have seen it with my own eyes how amazing God is. Praying you have the same revelation!
This is a horrible situation. I really feel for the mother of this child. I agree on the death penalty for this man. He has killed an innocent child that no child deserves. How could you kill your own child or even any child? There are some sick individuals out there and thats y it is so hard to trust anyone. To the mom of this innocent child…. I wish you the best of luck on everything. Maybe one day you will feel at peace and just remember you will see your baby boy again one day. RIP Baby Elias Ocean!
Dana, My heart pains for what you have been going through six years. I am so thankful you are getting the closure you need to go on with life. Please don’t give up on society because there has always been and always will be evil walking amongst us. I pray you change your mind and have another child, because you will have so much love to give it. May God strengthen you, and help you to have a wonderful life. My prayers are with you.
I hope you have been in contact with the organization, Parents of Murdered Children (POMC). Unfortunately, there are a lot of members. Fortunately, they can help you in so many ways because everyone there understands, first hand, the pain of having a child taken from you in such a heinous way. My heart breaks for you and I pray that this execution goes off without a hitch or delay. May man’s justice be carried out finally and allow God’s justice to follow!
I just cannot stand to see a child hurt and this man is getting what he deserves. With that said, I pray the mom is saved so she can see her child again in Heaven. For the dad, yes you did wrong and will be punished for it, but Jesus still forgives sinners no matter what. I pray he turns to Jesus and repents so he can know what he has done, but escape the torments of hell, which I don’t want even my worse enemy to go to.
Prays for all of you.
For those who will be standing outside the prison trying to stop this….remember the Bible states: An Eye For An Eye. He’s getting off easy. Someone should beat HIM to death as he did his own son.
I pray for Elias’s mother. Its too bad you won’t allow yourself another child, you obviously were a great mother. You need to allow yourself to live again and to be happy. And as you know, there is NO greater happiness than watching your child grow. I hope you have peace once this monster is executed on Thursday.
By the way…I love his name “Elias Ocean”.
I will pray for you!
This is why there is a dp in most rational states. We need to kill the worst of the worst. Lets see how much the lib media and protest groups oppose this execution and try and stop it. My guess is very little. It doesnt fit their agenda.
Child killers and abusers MUST BE STOTP by whatever means possible. I commend you on becoming a nurse and going on with your life. You little boy WILL LIVE ON IN YOU through this means. I don’t know you but can just tell you will go far with your life after dealing with this. Continue on and know that your story and life have touch me and many more. I hope each day gets better.
On the afternoon of Oct 20 2011, two groups of people will gather outside Hollman prison. One group will be partying shouting burn forever, the other group in solem prayer. I will be glad to have this horrible incident laid to rest.
this man should not have been allowed to live 6 years, he should have been stoned to death, but he’ll feel the pain in hell come thursday.
When you get to where you are going. Do some good and make room for drug dealers to children and more people like you, who hurt children.
Mickey Powell
Flomaton
ur a brave women and this lil boy of your’s is watching over you from below and as thursday comes up and that husband of your’s is executed u will set ur heart free..god is wrapping his arms around you and giving you that strentgh 2 go on with a new life,children are amazing in so many ways please dont stop having doubts of not wanting 2 be around kids or have any more,i wish you the best and ill keep you in my prayers.
Praying for this woman, and her sweet angel. What happened to that sweet innocent baby was unthinkable, I am so glad he is with Jesus right now, free from pain. God bless him and his mother.