IA IA - Kenny Johnson, 14, Dubuque, 10 Oct 1987

[Sin City]

Robert Cushing may have been on parole. The IA Dept of Corrections doesn't provide enough information for me to confirm that this is the RC I was searching for. I'm going to go on a limb and guess that this is him though.

Parole C Felony Dubuque 02/07/1994 End Date
Robert Edward Cushing
Offender Number 0805847
Sex M
Birth Date 10/28/1952
Age 60


http://www.doc.state.ia.us/InmateInf...nderCd=0805847

WOW good find !~ Anyway to know where this guy is today ?

ETA Does anyone know if sex offenders put into prison PRIOR to DNA sample requirements then had to give DNA samples after they became more widespread? Say this guy in the article, if he went to prison in the 80s, there would be no dna on file. But 10 yrs later, would they go to him and take his to match to any other cases? Something tells me the answer is NO even though there could be lots of cases cleared up if they did . TIA

 

[Sin City]

No Robert Cushing in IA Sex Offender Registry.

Not listed in NE Sex Offender Registry either. I'll keep looking.

 

[Sin City]

WOW! http://www.iowasexoffenders.com

There are currently 5,790 registrants listed on this website.
This website was last updated today, 06/06/2013, at 06:30:04 pm CST.

 

[Sin City]

Social Security Death Index/Ancestry.Com

Name: Robert E. Cushing
Born: 28 Oct 1952
Died: 20 Jan 2005
State (Year) SSN issued: Iowa (1964)

 

[SCHMAE]

I believe DNA is taken upon a predator's release from prison. I didn't search Cushing's release date. I'm hoping he's still in prison! However, I do not believe that LE retrieves DNA from a convicted felon years after a release...unless needed in the investigation of a felony. I truly don't know.

For example: I am aware of a man who was convicted of second degree murder in the 60's, was released in 3 1/2 yrs, continued his path of violence among other crimes, and when caught by LE only received slaps on the wrist or small fines....his DNA has never been taken by authorities BTW. :banghead:

Oh I'm sorry I made it confusing in my post. What I meant was for an INMATE. Let's say a sex offender got a 30 yr sentence in 1985 before DNA testing. Now that dna is everywhere, would they go to that offender IN PRISON and collect a sample to run in the data bases just in case? Whether or not he was being released.. heck let's make it a 50 yr sentence so release is not an issue. I'm just thinking there are plenty of sex offenders sitting in the pen on long sentences and taking all of their dna could very well clear up LOTS of cases nationwide, not necessarily Kenny's case, but possibly.

 

[Pensfan]

Did anyone see Kenny leaving the school?

Are the names of the staff members at the group home known?

Have the staff names been put into an Internet criminal records search site recently?
(Some staff member may show up as a violent predator.)

Have the other boys that were residents at this facility (now men) been interviewed recently? (Maybe they would be willing to share some previously unspoken details now.)

 

[Pensfan]

Under the comments of the article in the first post, someone mentioned the AV teacher. What was the reason the AV teacher was a suspect? Was the AV teacher a suspect in a sexual assault at some time?

Have you thought about starting a Facebook page to collect info?
http://www.everydayfamily.com/blog/facebook-solves-45-year-old-cold-case/

 

[jenstar]

O/T
Because it doesn't apply in this situation. I listen to WNPR radio and Tuesday, I heard of a man that was taken in for questioning and cleared on a rape case in the 80s, then he committed a murder and was charged just recently. Well, they took his dna and ran it thru the database and his DNA matched the rape case that he was earlier cleared on. They said due to "statute of limitations" they couldn't charge him with the rape case. (which I think is total BS).
It does make me wonder though. If the guy in Kenny's case has tried to get away with straight out murder, what/who was next? It seemed like the guy previously mention got brazen because he got away with rape and then committed a murder. I wonder if the perp here thinks he's untouchable and murdered again. MHO

 

[LR1]

Did anyone see Kenny leaving the school?

Are the names of the staff members at the group home known?

Have the staff names been put into an Internet criminal records search site recently?
(Some staff member may show up as a violent predator.)

Have the other boys that were residents at this facility (now men) been interviewed recently? (Maybe they would be willing to share some previously unspoken details now.)

I was thinking the same thing regarding the staff and hope they would have explored this angle. no doubt this guy went on to re-offend.

Under the comments of the article in the first post, someone mentioned the AV teacher. What was the reason the AV teacher was a suspect? Was the AV teacher a suspect in a sexual assault at some time?

Have you thought about starting a Facebook page to collect info?
http://www.everydayfamily.com/blog/facebook-solves-45-year-old-cold-case/

Post 51 has a link to what he was charged with and he was sentenced to 12 years, here's an old article that talks about it. I think they would have looked at him closely, likely his DNA as well.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mQ1FAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8LoMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3088,822420&dq=cushing+robert+wahlert&hl=en

 

[jenstar]

I read about this on a blogspot post; but I looked for harder evidence because I know that Social Media is here-say. This kinda blows my mind.

http://www.justice.gov/psc/docs/GrayslakeIL_04232008.pdf

 

[jenstar]

http://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/kenny-joe-johnson/[/url]

Any information or help you all may be able to offer would be of great comfort to my fiance and his siblings.

Respectfully snipped.

So I was re-reading the information and below that there is a comment section. I don't know if police have checked into this (MP) guy. But he left his contact information as if he knows something about the case. Does anyone know if what this guy has to say holds any value? Maybe he's just iffy about contacting LE. JW

<Edit: Also I checked out this guy's contact info and it seems legit. He's not a "troll".>

 

[Pensfan]

I was thinking the same thing regarding the staff and hope they would have explored this angle. no doubt this guy went on to re-offend.




Post 51 has a link to what he was charged with and he was sentenced to 12 years, here's an old article that talks about it. I think they would have looked at him closely, likely his DNA as well.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mQ1FAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8LoMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3088,822420&dq=cushing+robert+wahlert&hl=en

Whoa! He's a warped and was at Kenny's school. One would assume LE checked his DNA to that found on Kenny, but I'd specifically ask LE again.

 

[LR1]

No, RC as far as I know was not affiliated with the school Kenny Joe was attending. He (RC) worked at the catholic high school about a mile north of Kenny's school.

 

[Marksgirljess]

Thank you all for all your thoughts. It's given us some things to think about and we couldn't be more grateful. I hope to have a good update soon.

 

[SCHMAE]

Marksgirl , a couple of questions for your fiance if you don't mind.
It seems, if I mapped it correctly, that it was quite a distance from the home
where Kenny stayed with his mom and the boy's home. Does he remember if
ever they went to visit Kenny ? Did mom have any friends/ neighbors/ bf's who
may have tagged along? Or were there any older boys or even adults in the neighborhood
they lived in that befriended Kenny that he can remember anything off or strange about?
I know its a long shot . I just wondered about that. I can't even remember if your fiance was old enough to have been aware of anything like that at that time.

 

[jenstar]

Just letting you guys know Kenny's still in my thoughts. I hope LE is co-operative.

 

[libraryg]

Kenny is in my thoughts as well.........praying for justice for this dear boy!

 

[jenstar]

Good Morning, Kenny. I hope something surfaces for you soon.

 

[SCHMAE]

Jenstar, love the ' all i can do is try' . That sums it up nicely.
We are trying for you Kenny ! We are thinking and looking
and trying to match up times, dates, faces and anything else
we can. You will get justice one way or another.

I really have the feeling this perp is in prison and/ or in the system
somewhere as an RSO or something. I don't imagine he's out loose.
I imagine he was young at the time and Kenny may have been one of
his very first victims, if not very first. We all know they don't just stop
and go to a quiet law abiding life. I think he went on to do more and
more and got caught.

 

[jenstar]

Jenstar, love the ' all i can do is try' . That sums it up nicely.
We are trying for you Kenny ! We are thinking and looking
and trying to match up times, dates, faces and anything else
we can. You will get justice one way or another.

I really have the feeling this perp is in prison and/ or in the system
somewhere as an RSO or something. I don't imagine he's out loose.
I imagine he was young at the time and Kenny may have been one of
his very first victims, if not very first. We all know they don't just stop
and go to a quiet law abiding life. I think he went on to do more and
more and got caught.

I'd like to think that the monster is in a dark cell somewhere thinking about what he did to all of his victims. I wish there was somewhere to post to prisoners to see if they'd recognize one of their victims and come forward about it. Hopefully the family takes it to the media once again to get some answers.
As far as "all I can do is try"
It has a hidden meaning. It pushes me to try harder and never give up until I absolutely can't go further. Basically to do your best at whatever you do. Because if you've tried and done your best..that's all anyone can ask for. JMHO