Joanne Johnson, 93, murdered in her Augusta, Kansas home, September 2023

[LadyL]

From the quoted MSN link:

A shocking new detail is that local parents say their kids at Augusta High School witnessed the 14-year-old girls being pulled out of class, arrested, and escorted off the property.

The school released a statement saying:
<modsnip - pasting more than 10% of an article is a copyright violation>

oh well maybe it will act as a deterrent to other young criminally-minded youth

 

[Inthedetails]

I'm wondering if this was Labor Day weekend, and this was a burglary gone wrong. Homeowner surprised them by being home.

Arresting news now cites the victim was axed to death.

Father of 14-year-old girl arrested for murder in Augusta speaks out

A quiet street in Augusta was the scene of a horrific crime over Labor Day weekend in 2023. Police say a family member found 93-year-old Joanne Johnson dead at her

www.kake.com

I hate this thought, but I'm thinking it might have been a thrill kill.

A 93yo woman, even if active, is likely at home much of the time. It wouldn't be a surprise to encounter her in the house, imo. And even if the victim surprised them, was an axe handy? I picture this house as tidy and the victim doesn't look the type to keep an axe by her comfy chair, ykwim? (I know we don't know for sure, I am speculating.)

And I'm thinking if the girls entered the house to steal, they might have been more likely to confess before now, with guilt weighing on them when all they wanted was some cash, not to hurt an old lady.

I think they intended to kill and have been relishing their accomplishment. I'm curious where the weapon came from. Did they find it somewhere and then come up with a murderous fantasy and plan?

Btw, I'm assuming their story about the man forcing them to watch him kill the victim with an axe means the weapon was an axe, though I don't think that has been officially confirmed. ?

jmo

 

[SMK777]

AXED to death?!

There is something seriously wrong when two 14 year old girls axe a 93 year old woman to death.

What turns young girls into such violent killers?!

Snipped and bolded for focus.
I know in the case of the 2 teens who stabbed the 85 year old woman to death in California in 1983, some years later a journalist wrote the book, Little Girl Lost, and in it there was a great deal of information about their upbringings: Trauma, extreme sexual abuse, domestic violence, neglect. It was the author’s (Joan Merriam) opinion that they had become monsters due to being robbed of their childhoods, and subjected to years of intolerable abuse.

 

[Seattle1]

Snipped and bolded for focus.
I know in the case of the 2 teens who stabbed the 85 year old woman to death in California in 1983, some years later a journalist wrote the book, Little Girl Lost, and in it there was a great deal of information about their upbringings: Trauma, extreme sexual abuse, domestic violence, neglect. It was the author’s opinion that they had become monsters due to being robbed of their childhoods, and subjected to years of intolerable abuse.

I'm saddened that these juvenile offenders appear to be younger and more brazen every day. I'm thinking of the 13 yr old girl in TN who murdered her 8 year old cousin in July by smothering the child, and then staged the body to appear as if sleeping peacefully.

And another cousin murder followed weeks later in PA -- 13 yr old stabbed his 10 yr old cousin repeatedly in the head. They were at a sleepover at their grandmother's home.

Both of the cases above include victims known to their killer. But perhaps these murders were just more convenient for the defendants.

Age 13/14 and killing a stranger, as in this Augusta, KS case, is mind boggling.

I also wonder if these girls were high at the time of the murder and looking for money for another fix. I'm pretty confident they are both known in the juvenile system. MOO

 

[airportwoman]

I'm wondering if this was Labor Day weekend, and this was a burglary gone wrong. Homeowner surprised them by being home.

Arresting news now cites the victim was axed to death.

Father of 14-year-old girl arrested for murder in Augusta speaks out

A quiet street in Augusta was the scene of a horrific crime over Labor Day weekend in 2023. Police say a family member found 93-year-old Joanne Johnson dead at her

www.kake.com

That article looks like it was written by an AI bot, and probably was.

 

[airportwoman]

Sep 27, 2019
You don't have to be a big town with big budgets to have big ideas. Motivated by a school bond issue that passed overwhelmingly 10 years ago, city leaders in Augusta, Kansas were inspired to create a better community for their residents. They launched the Pride and Progress Initiative which poured money into parks, splash pads, fields - amenities that allowed this community to find balance and harmony in the beautiful place they call home.

Augusta, KS population sits around 10,000-- where more than half of the residents own their own home.

Augusta, Kansas - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

simple.wikipedia.org

According to this, the primary minority in town is Hispanic, and they are about 5% of the population. I had wondered about that, when I saw the "white guy" reference. (I also have a feeling he does not exist.)

Augusta, Kansas - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[airportwoman]

I'm saddened that these juvenile offenders appear to be younger and more brazen every day. I'm thinking of the 13 yr old girl in TN who murdered her 8 year old cousin in July by smothering the child, and then staged the body to appear as if sleeping peacefully.

And another cousin murder followed weeks later in PA -- 13 yr old stabbed his 10 yr old cousin repeatedly in the head. They were at a sleepover at their grandmother's home.

Both of the cases above include victims known to their killer. But perhaps these murders were just more convenient for the defendants.

Age 13/14 and killing a stranger, as in this Augusta, KS case, is mind boggling.

I also wonder if these girls were high at the time of the murder and looking for money for another fix. I'm pretty confident they are both known in the juvenile system. MOO

People like this have always existed. We just have the Internet and CNN to inform us of crimes outside our local areas.

 

[Herat]

oh well maybe it will act as a deterrent to other young criminally-minded youth

Why coddle them

It was a horrible, brutal murder.

 

[Seattle1]

People like this have always existed. We just have the Internet and CNN to inform us of crimes outside our local areas.

Of course, child murderers have always existed. My point was they are killing at an alarming rate -- I cited two making national news during the month of July alone. Also, juvenile facilities struggling to house inmates as they are beyond capacity.

 

[LadyL]

Why coddle them

It was a horrible, brutal murder.

Indeed.

 

[Seattle1]

Kansas county arrests two 14-year-olds in connection to killing of 93-year-old

Two 14-year-olds were arrested in connection with the homicide of a 93-year-old woman who was killed in September 2023, with this being the first major break in the case

www.themirror.com

8/17/24

"The family has no words, or ability to understand what has happened," Tim further lamented in the statement given to KWCH.

The victim's family acknowledged their unfamiliarity with the young suspects, emphasizing the heinous nature of the crime and their belief in stern repercussions regardless of the culprits' ages.

[..]

In a bid to solve this heartbreaking case, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, along with Johnson's grieving family, announced a $10,000 reward in May, eight months subsequent to Johnson's untimely demise.

[..]

Having lived in the shadow of fear as the perpetrators roamed free, Johnson's former neighbors and relatives express a bittersweet sense of relief as progress has finally been made.

"We just loved her and this was the most devastating thing for our block, our neighborhood," lamented Holly Randol, who lived near Johnson. "Still heartbroken that this whole thing had to happen. It was kids, kids. My heart is just broken."

 

[SMK777]

Kansas county arrests two 14-year-olds in connection to killing of 93-year-old

Two 14-year-olds were arrested in connection with the homicide of a 93-year-old woman who was killed in September 2023, with this being the first major break in the case

www.themirror.com

8/17/24

"The family has no words, or ability to understand what has happened," Tim further lamented in the statement given to KWCH.

The victim's family acknowledged their unfamiliarity with the young suspects, emphasizing the heinous nature of the crime and their belief in stern repercussions regardless of the culprits' ages.

[..]

In a bid to solve this heartbreaking case, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, along with Johnson's grieving family, announced a $10,000 reward in May, eight months subsequent to Johnson's untimely demise.

[..]

Having lived in the shadow of fear as the perpetrators roamed free, Johnson's former neighbors and relatives express a bittersweet sense of relief as progress has finally been made.

"We just loved her and this was the most devastating thing for our block, our neighborhood," lamented Holly Randol, who lived near Johnson. "Still heartbroken that this whole thing had to happen. It was kids, kids. My heart is just broken."

Really awful; what could possibly have motivated them? Drugs? Robbery? Inexplicable and inexcusable.

 

[Seattle1]

From Mrs. Johnson's family: 'the heinous nature of the crime'

From her neighbors: 'lived in the shadow of fear as the perpetrators roamed free'

Making this statement from the Augusta Public Schools Supt (Matt Ward) seem so tone deaf:

"News like this can be difficult, but I want to stress that the incident under investigation took place nearly one year ago, away from school. It did not take place on district property, and nobody from our school was placed in harm's way at any time," Ward assured in his statement.

That said, I hope it was a tip or tips from school mates that cracked this case! MOO

Augusta Schools Supt

ETA: FYI -- Augusta High School is located 2 minutes from the crime scene.

 

[Inthedetails]

From Mrs. Johnson's family: 'the heinous nature of the crime'

From her neighbors: 'lived in the shadow of fear as the perpetrators roamed free'

Making this statement from the Augusta Public Schools Supt (Matt Ward) seem so tone deaf:

"News like this can be difficult, but I want to stress that the incident under investigation took place nearly one year ago, away from school. It did not take place on district property, and nobody from our school was placed in harm's way at any time," Ward assured in his statement.

That said, I hope it was a tip or tips from school mates that cracked this case! MOO

Augusta Schools Supt

ETA: FYI -- Augusta High School is located 2 minutes from the crime scene.

That is an odd statement from the school and, honestly, rather cold.

jmo

 

[Seattle1]

Really awful; what could possibly have motivated them? Drugs? Robbery? Inexplicable and inexcusable.

At 93 and living alone, I doubt she kept cash, valuables at home-- hoping to keep safe and not make herself a target.

I think these two monsters wanted $$ for the long holiday weekend and believed Mrs. Johnson should help them out. When she wouldn't or couldn't, they showed her...

Inexcusable. No person surviving 9 + decades (life) should end this way.

Also, hanging out in the park (prob around drug dealing) sounds credible to me. Perhaps the bit of truth to their fantasy told to investigators. MOO

 

[TTF14]

That is an odd statement from the school and, honestly, rather cold.

jmo

I thought the same thing when I first read it, too. Their emphasis was on making sure THEIR good name wasn't smeared in anyway. Really inappropriate. Their PR person needs some sensitivity training. JMO IMO

 

[GoBuckeyes]

I think they will be tried as adults in Kansas. Here's a link about the Kansas Supreme Court upholding the decision to prosecute a 14 year old boy as an adult.

Juvenile Justice: Authorizing Prosecution as an Adult in Kansas

In December 2020, the Kansas Supreme Court affirmed the Reno County District Court’s decision to authorize adult prosecution of fourteen-year-old defendant, Samuel Vonachen. The district court relied upon Kansas Statute section 38-2347(d), which enumerates eight factors a court should consider...

www.washburnlaw.edu

Except that they were 13 at the time of the murder. Are they still eligible?

 

[airportwoman]

That is an odd statement from the school and, honestly, rather cold.

jmo

They may have had parents who asked if their children had been in any known danger at school from those girls.

 

[SMK777]

Excuse me while I go & be sick.

So if they're released at 22-ish... they'll be considered safe to be free to roam about in civilized society ??
I wouldn't want either of them living near me, my family, or my friends.
Or anyone else who is kind, decent, and law abiding.

To enjoy committing a murder makes me think they should never be free.
They've shown what they're capable of, imo.
The age and fragility of Joanne makes it seem worse.
She was helpless.

I'm curious if they broke in or used a ruse like 'can we use your phone', etc.
Most young people have their own phones so that previous sentence is prob. moot.

Extremely doubtful they can be rehabilitated or ever fully trusted.
Something wicked and broken in this pair !
Omo.

Just to be clear, that quote is from the similar 1983 case in which 2 fourteen year old girls killed an 85 year old woman. We were discussing the similarities. Sorry for the confusion.

But yes, it’s awful what the girl says.
Both cases are horrific.

 

[Chimera]

Hoping for the stiffest penalties possible in Joanne's murder.
Back in the past, I used to think if the perps were quite youthful there was always a chance at rehabilitation ?
I'm no longer certain of that.
It's all so depressing beyond belief that kids can commit such crimes.
Omo.