Details of Disappearance
Johnson last spoke to his wife on the evening of October 10, 2020, when he called her at work and they got into an argument. He told her he was going to stay with friends.
At 6:00 p.m. on October 11, his friends dropped him off at the intersection of Highway CC and Hwy N in Sawyer County, Wisconsin, near Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation, at a location known as Six Mile Corner. He had previously parked his 2001 Dodge Dakota pickup truck there; it had a brake line problem and, although it was still driveable, he'd left it by the side of the road.
At 10:15 a.m., his cellular phone pinged to an area 12.6 miles northwest of Ladysmith, Wisconsin. He never contacted his loved ones again and his truck disappeared with him. A photo of the truck is posted with this case summary.
A person reported seeing someone matching Johnson's description walking down a remote logging road near Birchwood, Wisconsin on October 12, wearing only socks, boxer shorts and a tank top. The person asked the man if he needed help, and the man said he was fine. The witness took a photo of the man from behind as he walked away; that photo is posted with this case summary.
The October 12 sighting was not reported until December 14, two months later. Johnson's family viewed the witness's photo and identified the man in it as him. He was never seen or heard from again after October 12.
On December 2, twelve days before the Birchwood sighting was reported, the police had found Johnson's abandoned truck near the intersection of Perch Lake Road and Fire Lane Road.
A further search of the area turned up clothing items in various locations, including Johnson's gloves, his clean boots, and pants containing his identification, as well as a check and some cash. These items were scattered over a mile-long area west of Fire Lane Road and south of where the truck was found. Searchers also noted a small teepee Johnson had apparently set up on top of a ridge, close to his truck and within sight of the road.
Johnson's wife stated it's uncharacteristic of him to walk around in his undergarments and that he didn't even do this while at home with his family.
It's possible that he removed his outer clothing due to hypothermia-induced disorientation, a phenomenon known as "paradoxical undressing." Temperatures in the area on October 11 and 12 ranged from a high of 65 degrees during the day and a low of 39 at night. Another possibility is that Johnson undressed while under the influence of methamphetamine.
Johnson's wife stated he was an excellent stepfather and worked long hours at his job at Potter's Farm in Exeland, Wisconsin. The circumstances of his disappearance are unclear.
Investigating Agency
- Rusk County Sheriff's Office 715-532-2200
Source Information
