Jeremiah Johnson, one of four people charged in the kidnapping and killing of Anderson businessman Chandrakant “C.J.” Patel, will stand trial today after his lawyers unsuccessfully argued to have his confession suppressed...
Charged in the case along with Johnson are Kyndra Howell, Zachary Gantt and Ezra Williams, whom investigators have said is the shooter. Howell is in prison serving a 50-year sentence. Williams is awaiting trial and Zachary Gantt pleaded guilty last year and agreed to cooperate with investigators. Gantt has not yet been sentenced...
Investigators said Patel had been paying Howell for sex, and that Howell, who is in her 20s, suggested to Johnson and Gantt that the three should rob him. Williams joined the plan sometime later... Danny Barton, an investigator with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, has said... the accused tortured Patel, trying to get him to give them personal identification numbers that would grant them access to accounts for his debit and credit cards.
