Son of Joanne Johnson reveals new details about how mother was murdered

AUGUSTA, Kan. (KWCH) - For the first time, Joanne Johnson’s family revealed how the 93-year-old grandmother was murdered. Joanne’s son, Tim Johnson, made it a point to clear up any rumors surrounding the violent crime.

Tim said his mother was beaten to death with a hatchet, according to the official coroner’s report. He said the brutality of the murder warrants the teenagers accused, both 13 years old when the crime happened, to be tried as adults. He also plans to continue to push for what he believes the law allows.

“We’re reconciling two facts that we do know: This was an unbelievably, heinous, brutal murder and the fact it’s two juveniles, that statutes allow them to be charged as adults and that’s what we want to see happen,” Tim Johnson said.

The two 14-year-old girls charged with Joanne Johnson’s murder have been charged as juveniles. Both remain in custody and are due back in court on Oct. 31. Last week, the girls pleaded “not guilty” to first-degree murder. The judge has denied our request for the affidavit in the case.

The family hopes that prosecutors will continue for push for the teens to be charged as adults.

For now, that statute is clear, in one sentence: “No juvenile less than 14 years of age shall be prosecuted as an adult.” That means that now, even if the two 14-year-olds charged in Joanne Johnson’s murder are convicted, they can only serve time until they are 22-and-a-half years old. The girls were 13 last September when Johnson was found dead in her home.