‘Game Over’ – Atmore Baby Killer Executed
October 21, 2011
Convicted baby killer Christopher Thomas of Atmore was executed by lethal injection Thursday night at Holman Prison in Atmore. He was pronounced dead at 6:25 p.m. after uttering his final words “Game over”.
Johnson, 38, testified that he purposefully beat his son, Elias Ocean Johnson, to death on February 20, 2005, at a duplex on Horner Street in Atmore because he hated his wife Dana Johnson.
His final meal, chosen from food available in the Holman cafeteria, was a turkey bologna sandwich with tomatoes and cheese, french fries, and an orange drink. When asked if he had any final words as the execution process began just after 6 p.m. Thursday, he said “Game over.”
There was one family member that witnessed the execution — Thomas Eugene Lagos, who also visited Johnson during the day.
“He paid his price,” Largos said, according to media pool reports. “He’s been waiting on this awhile.”
“Thursday I will be granted closure finally,” Dana Johnson told NorthEscambia.com in an exclusive interview earlier in the week. Now living in Arizona, she did not attend the execution. “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 shared photos of baby Elias for the first-time ever in a NorthEscambia.com story published Monday.
“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.”
“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 earlier in the week, 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.
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.
Funeral Sunday In Cantonment For Former Escambia Sheriff
October 21, 2011
Funeral services have been set for Escambia County Sheriff Jim Lowman.
Lowman, who served as sheriff from 1992-2000, passed away Wednesday night after battling an undisclosed illness for months. He had also recently undergone a hip replacement. Lowman was 76.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the First Baptist Church of Cantonment, with visitation to be held one hour prior to service time. Faith Chapel Funeral Home North in Cantonment is in charge of arrangement.
He was narrowly defeated for reelection by Ron McNesby in 2000, losing by just 2,110 votes.
Photos: Hundreds Attend Flomaton Fall Festival
October 21, 2011
Hundreds of people from across the area attended the annual Fall Festival Thursday night in Flomaton as characters of all sorts roamed the street. The event also included a big pep rally for the Flomaton Hurricanes.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured: Scenes from the Flomaton Fall Festival Thursday night in Flomaton, Alabama. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Baldwin County Man Convicted Of Murdering Escambia Gold Dealer
October 21, 2011
A Baldwin County jury deliberated only an hour and 15 minutes Thursday morning before finding David Coombs guilty of capital murder in the 2009 robbery/shooting death of an Escambia County gold dealer.
Baldwin County District Attorney Hallie Dixon praised the teamwork of law enforcement officers and prosecutors in presenting the case against Coombs in a trial that has lasted nearly three weeks. “This is the way it’s supposed to work,” Dixon said. “The teamwork among the law enforcement agencies and our office has been just phenomenal. That teamwork made it possible to present a lot of information to the jury in a way that obviously helped them reach their decision quickly.”
Coombs, 35, was convicted of shooting 57-year-old William Grunden in the back of the head after luring him to a deserted, wooded location in the Wilcox area, and stealing thousands of dollars from him. Prosecutors presented evidence that Coombs went on a spending spree and repaid debts in the hours and days following the murder.
Atmore Man Shot To Death On Philadelphia Street
October 21, 2011
A former Atmore resident was shot and killed early Tuesday morning in Philadelphia — one of four people slain in about an hour in separate shootings in that city.
LaJuan E. Morrison, 29, was found dead with a bullet wound to the head on the sidewalk of Philadelphia street at 12:04 after police responded to a 911 call about a shooting in the area, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:13 a.m. Police do not have a motive for the shooting.
Morrison was a resident of the 3100 block of North 29th Street in North Philadelphia.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Turner Funeral Chapel, LLC in Atmore.
Public Hearing Held On Fannie Road Bridge Replacement
October 21, 2011
The Florida Department of Transportation held a public meeting Thursday about a planned bridge replacement on Fannie Road over Dead Lake in Century.
Construction for this project is currently funded in 2014. Proposed improvements include replacement of the current bridge at Dead Lake with a new concrete structure consisting of two 12-foot travel lanes and 8-foot shoulders. The roadway pavement will be reconstructed as necessary to accommodate the new slightly taller bridge. The roadway will be closed and through traffic detoured onto Highway 31/29 in Alabama and onto Highway 4 in Florida.
State Attorney, FBI Launch Probe Into Nonprofit
October 21, 2011
Search warrants have been executed and an investigation has been launched into the Three Rivers Resource Conservation Council, Inc. — a not for profit organization based in Milton comprised of representatives from the county commissions, Soil and Water Conservation Districts and members-at-large from Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Washington and Holmes counties.
The State Attorney’s Office together with the Florida Office of Fiscal Integrity and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, are investigating complaints of theft and misappropriation of public monies, equipment and funds provided to Three Rivers from federal and state grants intended for conservation projects, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins.
Law enforcement officers from the State Attorney’s Office, Office of Fiscal Integrity and FBI, supported by Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office, Milton Police Department, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, State Attorney Office for the 14th Circuit, and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, executed six search warrants at the Three Rivers offices in Milton and offices of entities doing business with Three Rivers at various locations in Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Washington counties.
Law enforcement officers also questioned several persons employed by or associated with Three Rivers regarding these allegations. This investigation is ongoing at this time, according to Eddins, and further details have not been released.
No Major Damage After Home Furnace Fire Reported
October 20, 2011
No major damage was reported after a possible furnace fire early Thursday morning in Cantonment.
Area fire departments responded to the 1900 block of Stacey Road just after 5 a.m. Thursday after a resident reported flames coming from out of the their furnace after turning on their heat.
The first firefighter on scene reported no flames or smoke visible from outside the home upon arrival. There were no injuries reported.
Man Gets 20 Years For Molino DUI Death
October 20, 2011
A man has been sentenced to the maximum prison term for a 2010 drunk driving accident that killed his passenger.
Terry Eugene Lee was sentenced by Judge Linda Nobles to 20 years in state prison.
On September 7, Lee pleaded no contest to DUI manslaughter, felony driving on a suspended license and DUI causing property damage.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Lee was traveling on Omega Drive about 6:15 p.m. November 10, 2010, when his Toyota car left the roadway, traveled through a wooden fence and across a pasture before hitting another fence and a tree. Lee’s passenger, Brandee N. Scott, 49, of Pensacola, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. She was impaled by a wooden board from the fence.
According to State Attorney Bill Eddins, Lee was driving with a blood alcohol level of .26/.27.
Lee, who was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital following the crash, first told Florida Highway Patrol troopers that he was not involved in the crash.
For more photos from the scene, click here.
Pictured: A Navarre man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for this November 2010 DUI crash in Molino. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Century Nets $100,000 Grant For Housing Rehabilitation
October 20, 2011
The Town of Century has been awarded a $100,000 grant to rehabilitate about 20 homes.
The USDA Rural Development Housing Preservation Grant will provide up to $5,000 per house to make repairs or improvements such as roof repairs, plumbing repairs, handicap and accessibility ramps.
According to Debbie Nickles, the town’s consultant for the grant, homes to be rehabilitated will first be chosen from a waiting list of applicants for a previous grant program.
The money will be available to the town once paperwork is completed, Nickles said.
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