Case Info

1984 LAMAR COUNTY HOMICIDE

On July 16, 1984, Donna Ogletree Johnson, a 28 year old white female, left her home in rural Lamar County, Georgia, en route to a nearby dumpster to empty trash. She never returned to the residence. Her automobile and two small dogs were found parked at the dumpster a few hours later by a passerby, but Ms. Johnson was not found. According to friends and relatives of Ms. Johnson, this was both unusual and suspicious.

Law enforcement officers from the Lamar County Sheriff's Department in Barnesville, Georgia were dispatched to the abandoned car immediately. Rene M. Hood, a deputy sheriff for Lamar County, was the first law enforcement officer on the scene. She was notified at 4:40 p.m., July 16, 1984. Upon responding to the scene and being familiar with Ms. Johnson, Deputy Sheriff Hood immediately knew that something was terribly wrong.

A search party was organized shortly thereafter, consisting of Lamar County and surrounding area law enforcement authorities. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Region Six Office in Milledgeville was also called by then Lamar County Sheriff Frank Monaghan to assist in the investigation. Shortly after the discovery of the vehicle, a heavy downpour of rain began which hampered investigative and search efforts.

At 8:52 p.m., the body of Donna Ogletree Johnson was found bound and gagged in the rain filled ruts of an abandoned logging road. By the time her body was found, the heavy downpour had washed away much of the potential evidence that may have helped in the investigation.

Witnesses including neighbors, acquaintances, relatives and passersby have been interviewed over the years since Ms. Johnson's murder. However, no strong suspect has ever been developed.

Contact:

If you have any information on the murder of Ms. Johnson, please contact the either the Lamar County Sheriff's Department at 770/358-5159, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Regional Office in Milledgeville at 478/445-4173 or the GBI Tip line at 1-800-597-TIPS.