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.
Century Elections Results Officially Certified
October 17, 2011
The results of last week’s Century election have been officially certified by the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office.
Final, official results are as follows:
Florida Prescription Database Goes Online
October 17, 2011
After years of debate about privacy issues and deadly drug use, Florida doctors and pharmacists started tapping into a state database Monday to check out patients’ prescription histories.
The database is aimed at curbing prescription-drug abuse and “doctor shopping” — addicts going from doctor to doctor to try to score prescriptions for powerful painkillers such as OxyContin.
Sen. Mike Fasano, a New Port Richey Republican who was a key player in getting the database approved, said he views it as the most-important part of the state’s effort to fight prescription drug abuse. He said it will save lives.
“It’s a long time coming,” Fasano said Friday. “It’s a database that was needed many years ago.”
Doctors and pharmacists are not required to get information from the database, but Fasano said he will propose legislation next year to make it mandatory.
Two of the state’s most-influential physician groups, the Florida Medical Association and the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association, have encouraged their members to take part.
In a recent message to his members, Florida Osteopathic Medical Association President Jeffrey Grove wrote that they would “be able to query the database for any indication a patient is engaging in the practice of doctor shopping for the expressed purpose of accumulating prescription drugs for illicit reasons. There is no requirement to query the database prior to writing a prescription, but the FOMA strongly encourages you to do so.”
Tad Fisher, executive vice president of the Florida Academy of Family Physicians, said the database could be valuable when doctors do not know patients, such as “walk-in” patients at physicians’ offices or urgent-care centers.
“The conversation has always been that a database could be very helpful for patients that you don’t have any history on at all,” Fisher said.
Lawmakers approved creating the database in 2009, but it has long faced controversy because of concerns about patient privacy.
Gov. Rick Scott and House Republican leaders this year raised the possibility of scrapping the database, but that idea ultimately died, at least in part, because of opposition from Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island.
Florida has received a reputation in recent years as a magnet for prescription-drug abusers and traffickers from as far away as Ohio and Kentucky. Unscrupulous storefront pain clinics in Broward, Palm Beach and other counties became notorious for prescribing — and in many cases dispensing — painkillers.
Lawmakers have passed a series of laws to try to crack down on the problems. For example, a law this year barred many doctors from dispensing dangerous controlled substances in their offices, forcing patients to take prescriptions to pharmacies.
Along with facing political opposition, the start of the database was hamstrung by a bid dispute among contractors.
But pharmacies and dispensing physicians in September began loading prescription records into the database. They are required to report information to the database within seven days of dispensing drugs such as OxyContin, Xanax and Valium.
Pharmacies and doctors have already put more than 15 million controlled-substance prescription records into the database, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Doctors and pharmacists who use the system will receive reports that show patient prescription histories, helping them detect possible abuse.
By Jim Saunders
The News Service of Florida
District Battles Heating Up
October 17, 2011
There are two big district battles brewing for Friday night as we head into week 8 of the Florida high school football season.
The top of District 1-6A will come down to Friday night’s matchup between Pensacola High (5-1, 3-0) and Pace (5-2, 3-1). Meanwhile, the only North Escambia area team in the district is out of the title hunt for sure, with Tate winless at 0-7, 0-4.
Northview (3-2, 1-0) and Freeport (5-1, 1-0) both had last Friday night off as they prepare to face off against each other this Friday night in Bratt for the top spot in District1-1A.
Meanwhile, West Florida High School remains at the top of District 1-5A with a (6-0,2-0) record. Short of a a major upset, the WFHS best-ever season will continue Friday night as the Jaguars travel Rutherford (1-4, 0-1), the worst team in the district standings.
Bee Workshop Scheduled
October 17, 2011
Escambia County Extension and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (UF/IFAS) will present a series of classes called Beekeeping in the Panhandle. The classes cover a variety of beekeeping topics including types of honey bees, pollen collection and how to split hives. These classes will be offered by interactive video at the Escambia County Extension Office located at 3740 Stefani Road in Cantonment and held from 6-8 p.m. on the scheduled dates.
Eight sessions are as follows:
- Monday, Nov. 21: Introduction to Bees
- Monday, Nov. 28 : Introduction to Beekeeping and Beekeeping Equipment
- Monday, Dec. 5: Bee Management
- Monday, Dec. 12: Pests and Diseases
- Monday, Jan. 9: Honey Plants and Pollination Ecology
- Monday, Jan. 16: Products of the Hive
- Monday, Jan. 23: Splitting Hives, Increasing Hive Numbers and Pollination
- Monday, Jan. 30: Others Topics in Beekeeping
Along with the registration form, a $50 fee per person and $25 for each additional person, covers the cost of the class and materials. You can mail the registration to the Escambia County Extension Office, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment, FL 32533. Registration and payments are due by November 16.
A Beekeeping Tradeshow is also being held at the Washington County Extension Office located at 1424 Jackson Ave. in Chipley on December 10 at 10 a.m. Preregistration is at 9 a.m. the day of the event. This free tradeshow consists of hands-on demonstrations, exhibits and more.
For more information, or to register, please contact Libbie Johnson, Escambia County Agriculture Extension Agent, at 475-5230, or libbiej@ufl.edu.
Ransom FFA Members Place In District Forestry Field Day
October 17, 2011
For the first time in Ransom Middle School FFA history, four students recently participated in the District 1 Forestry Competition at Bear Lake Blackwater State Forest. Ransom’s FFA placed third overall , with Austin Murphy placing second in Map Interpretation and Johnnie Johnson placing second in Forest Disorder Identification.
The event was designed to stimulate student interest in forestry, to promote forestry instruction in the agricultural education curriculum, and to provide recognition for those students who have demonstrated skill and competency as a result of forestry instruction. Each participant was an active member of a chartered Florida FFA Chapter and enrolled in sixth, seventh or eighth grade. All teams consisted of four members and all members of the team participated in all six events.
Along with FFA Advisor, Dawn Inman, eighth grade students, Cole Halfacre, Paul Guy, Austin Murphy, and Johnnie Johnson competed in this event. The events covered this year were General Knowledge, Dendrology, Forest Disorders, Equipment Identification, Timber Cruising, and Map Interpretation.
Two employees from International Paper, Jack Williams and John Brown, assisted the students with preparing for this competition.
Pictured top: Ransom Middle School FFA members Austin Murphy (left) placed second in Map Interpretation and Johnnie Johnson (right) placed second in Forest Disorder Identification at the recent District 1 Forestry Competition. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tire Fire Creates Large Smoke Plume
October 16, 2011
A large plume of smoke could be seen across part of North Escambia Sunday afternoon from a fire near Enon. A large pile of tires was found to be burning in the 10000 block of Highway 97A near South Highway 99. The Walnut Hill and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, along with the Florida Division of Forestry and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, responded to the fire.
Pictured above: Smoke from an Enon tire fire could be seen from Highway 97 in Walnut Hill, about 10 miles away. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Copper Thief Strikes Community Center
October 16, 2011
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a copper thief hit the Davisville Community Center on Highway 97.
Community center managers discovered Saturday that both of the central air conditioning units at the facility had been destroyed by a thief and that stripped out copper coils. The theft reportedly happened sometime during the last week.
The incident is under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. A crime scene technician responded to the scene Saturday, dusting for fingerprints and collecting evidence.
Early estimates are that the theft could cost the county from $4,000 to 5,000 in damage and replacement costs.
In July, a copper thief struck at the Byrneville Community Center, removing the copper coils from one of three air units located just feet from the community center’s playground. That theft cost Escambia County taxpayers $2,345. There were no arrests reported in that case.
Anyone with information about the theft should contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured top: An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office crime scene technician looks for fingerprints on a destroyed air conditioning unit at the Davisville Community Center Saturday morning. Pictured inset and below: Two units were dismantled and stripped of copper coils. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two Injured In Highway 97 Rollover Crash Blamed On Deer
October 16, 2011
A driver told authorities she ran off the road after hitting or almost hitting a deer early Sunday morning on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill.
The accident happened just north of Howell Road about 3:15 a.m. After reportedly seeing the deer in the road, the woman ran off the road into a ditch, struck a pecan tree and overturned. The female driver and a male passenger were transported by ambulance to a Pensacola hospital.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The names of those involved have not yet been released. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Atmore Ambulance also responded to the crash.
The accident was the second of the weekend in North Escambia blamed on deer. For details on a Saturday night crash on Highway 29 north of Molino, click here.
Pictured above and below: Two people were injured in this crash after reportedly avoiding deer on Highway 97 early Sunday morning. Pictured inset: The vehicle struck this pecan tree before overturning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Highway 29 Rollover Crash Trying To Avoid Deer
October 16, 2011
A McDavid man was injured in a single vehicle crash Saturday night on Highway 29 north of Molino.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Kyle Steven Hanssen, 24, was northbound on Highway 29 near Barth Road about 9:50 p.m when he attempted to avoid a deer in the roadway. He veered onto the shoulder of the road, lost control and rotated into the median. His 1999 Chevrolet Lumina overturned at least three times across the southbound lanes and traveled down an embankment where it collided with a utility pole.
Hanssen was airlifted to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola by Lifeflight. Both the north and southbound lanes of Highway 29 were closed by the accident for a period of time.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
The accident was the first of two in the North Escambia area blamed on deer over the weekend. For details on the other crash in Walnut Hill, click here.
Pictured: A McDavid man was injured in this single vehicle crash on Highway 29 near Barth Road Saturday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
