Tom Johnson computer murder case

[daddystabz]

I just watched the episode where Tom Johnson murdered the fiancé of a man whom was in the process of selling a $30,000 computer to Tom. The man was badly beaten as well. I am wondering if anyone has any update on the case? Was Tom ever arrested for it? Thanks!

[Bazorro]

nothing... this one will remain unsolved.

This guy is probable just a normal guy that you will see on the street with the wife and 2 kids.

[kadrmas15]

Yeah it is unsolved and I agree the odds of this case ever getting solved arent good. I checked both the Marietta Police Department and Cobb County Police Department websites and nothing about it was on there. It is like it has all been forgotten. I think Tom Johnson probably was from Georgia for him to pick Marietta to meet. Such a bizarre case. He has a gun but yet doesnt use it and instead beats the victims with a hammer. I think that woman was in on it with "Tom" and then when she realized he wasnt going to just rob them but he was going to kill them she backed out and tried to prevent it from happening. If only the hotel manager would have been more aggresive.

[dynoguy88]

Such a bizarre case. He has a gun but yet doesnt use it and instead beats the victims with a hammer.

He would have been a fool to actually shoot the victims because he was in a hotel room in the middle of the day. Many people would have heard the gun shots and it's more than likely that witnesses would have seen him speeding off given the time of the day.

I think the only reason he pulled out the gun was to scare them into not making a run for it. By beating them to death, it would be easier to escape undetected. Sure, he risked the possibility that somebody nearby could have heard Heather's screams but a gun shot would have been much louder. He wouldn't have gotten away if he shot them to death.

[wiseguy182]

Well actually, Heather's screams were heard by someone in the next room, even though the gun wasn't used. This lady complained about it to the front desk. It is not known whether this lady was Tom Johnson's accomplice or not. I tend to think it was his accomplice, as Tom Johnson kept waiting for someone that never showed up. I think her conscience took over and she tried to do something about it. Unfortunately, the front desk guy said that "we don't get involved in people's personal affairs." I work at a hotel front desk and I defiinitely would have called the police. I haven't had to deal with anyone getting murdered at my hotel, or getting so severely beaten the way Heather and her fiancee did, but I have had a couple of fights that I have had to get the Police to take care of.

The front desk guy isn't any better than Crystal Spencer's neighbor. I mean, good grief, Crystal is letting out BLOODCURDLING screams, and this guy doesn't do anything about it! His reasoning was because he was afraid the guy might have came after him too. Well, if you have legitimate concerns that somebody is going to come after you, that's exactly why you call the police. It was in the middle of the night in LA, so I'm assuming this guy's door was locked. He didn't make the phone call even with the advantage of being in a locked room. If he was worried he might be overheard, he could have just went to the other end of the apartment and spoke it a quiet voice "We need police here, now!" and maybe Crystal would still be alive today.

[dynoguy88]

Well actually, Heather's screams were heard by someone in the next room, even though the gun wasn't used. This lady complained about it to the front desk.

Actually, the lady that went to the front desk did so when Jeremy and Heather were out to breakfast. Remember, they arrived at the hotel early in the morning, met Tom Johnson at the hotel, then went to breakfast before returning to the hotel to wait for Johnson's "so called" partner to arrive. THAT's when they were attacked.

To my knowledge, no people in the nearby rooms heard Heather's screams. The UM segment theorized the lady that went to the front desk while Heather and Jeremy were gone, might have been Johnson's partner who decided to give up the deal when she learned Johnson had planned to kill them. Naturally, the ladies concerns weren't taken seriously.

[RightOnDude]

I can't get over the fact that Tom Johnson was able to subdue (according to the re-enactment) two people with a tiny Derringer, beat one with a hammer while the other stayed in the room (TRAPPED in a BEDSHEET?!?!), and then beat the other. What a weird case. "I think we can end this transaction right now."

[wiseguy182]

Actually, the lady that went to the front desk did so when Jeremy and Heather were out to breakfast. Remember, they arrived at the hotel early in the morning, met Tom Johnson at the hotel, then went to breakfast before returning to the hotel to wait for Johnson's "so called" partner to arrive. THAT's when they were attacked.

To my knowledge, no people in the nearby rooms heard Heather's screams. The UM segment theorized the lady that went to the front desk while Heather and Jeremy were gone, might have been Johnson's partner who decided to give up the deal when she learned Johnson had planned to kill them. Naturally, the ladies concerns weren't taken seriously.

Now that I think of it, the lady that complained to the front desk might not have said she heard screams per se, however, I disctinctly remember her saying that something was going on in the room that wasn't exactly right.

[kadrmas15]

Well she probably said it because she wanted the manager to investigate. Remember they said the time she went in there was before the time the beatings started. I too think it was Johnson's accomplice and I think that she tried to thwart the operation when she found out Johnson intended to kill his victims. When he told them to lie down I am sure that was the last thought in their heads was this guy is going to beat us to death with a hammer. That is probably why they didnt do anything. Yeah they could have tried to do something to him but I imagine only a person that has ever actually had a gun pulled on them knows what that feels like and knows exactly what they would do. I am sure Johnson was from Georgia or was from that area. They most likely will never catch him. I am surprised the manager of the hotel or someone didnt remember him. It looked like it was just a cheap motor hotel and that was probably before the days of every hotel having security cameras. As I said earlier I think the woman was Johnson's accomplice because I think had she been staying in the room next door and heard the screams I think she would have told the manager that and he would have investigated. However she just told him there was trouble in Johnsons room and wouldnt elaborate as to what so he didnt investigate.

[wiseguy182]

Just rewatched the segment again, and found something interesting I hadn't noticed before. I had known Jeremy and Heather had lived in Tennessee, but according to the segment, it looks like "Tom Johnson" also lived in Tennessee, at least at the time. It shows Tom visiting Jeremy's house to took at the computer. Also, it said the car he used as his getaway car had Tennessee plates. I was thinking Tom had lived in Georgia, or was at least visiting there. I guess that was where his supposed workplace was, as it mentioned something about a rumored industrial parkway. Seems a tad odd that they would both make the trek down to Georgia when they both lived in TN, but I guess Jeremy wanted to sell that computer and figured Tom Johnson was the only one that would buy it for the price he was looking. That, and maybe it was part of Tom Johnson's plan.

Another interesting thing was that Tom Johnson apparently called Jeremy at one point regarding the computer. I'm guessing they weren't able to trace that call.

I know some things about computers, but I'm not the world's foremost expert on it, so correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like this would be a tougher crime to pull off nowadays. Would they be able to trace it, through IP addresses or something like that?

[New Brandon]

I know some things about computers, but I'm not the world's foremost expert on it, so correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like this would be a tougher crime to pull off nowadays. Would they be able to trace it, through IP addresses or something like that?

Not with IP addresses, since the IP address would depend on the ISP and all. I don't think there's a way to track down a specific PC, but computer theft isn't a huge problem as far as I know.

[Goofyman]

I doubt that computer would be internet-ready or used at all for internet, so the IP is out. As far as tracking individual computers, it can be done using the serial number of the components like the motherboard, graphics cards, etc. However, in order to do that, you need the original serial numbers, which I doubt one would keep especially when selling.

I highly doubt this case will ever be solved using traditional methods. The only way I see this one going down as closed would be if the guy turned himself in.

[New Brandon]

I doubt that computer would be internet-ready or used at all for internet, so the IP is out. As far as tracking individual computers, it can be done using the serial number of the components like the motherboard, graphics cards, etc. However, in order to do that, you need the original serial numbers, which I doubt one would keep especially when selling.

I highly doubt this case will ever be solved using traditional methods. The only way I see this one going down as closed would be if the guy turned himself in.

Well, he didn't use the gun or else they might've been able to trace that...

As far as the computer goes, it would only make sense to sell it somehow without getting caught (classifieds aren't such a good idea) to me. That computer is now a glorified paperweight.

Yeah, probably the only way he'll get caught is if he talks about it or does it himself...

[dks64]

It's sad that this case was never solved. According to someone online, Jeremy died in a car accident in 1997. Anyone know if this is true? I don't think any last name was given during the segment, so I can't look it up.

[Apostapler]

It's sad that this case was never solved. According to someone online, Jeremy died in a car accident in 1997. Anyone know if this is true? I don't think any last name was given during the segment, so I can't look it up.

It's true. Someone posted about it in this thread:
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?p=3988446&highlight=jeremy#post3988446

[dks64]

How sad, he was in the Peace Corps at the time :(

[xxxxmattxxxx69]

I read a thing about a Tom Steeples who committed a similar crime in manner to this but was apprehended and is now deceased. Never was looked into if he was Tom Johnson.

[unslvd mr e]

how come that so called woman partner of tom johnson, who backed out of the theft/murder, never called the police and told them his real identity, ect? she would have known what he looks like, perhaps his license plate number. sure, she probably didnt call cause she would be afraid of tom tracking her down and killing her too, but why didnt she leave a message or write an anonymous letter to the police and just move away.

she should have moved away anyways cause u would think she would be afraid that tom would track her down in the future to silence her for good. either way, she should have given the police more info about tom. i dont think the lady who reported the initial motel room noises was his accomplice, if she backed out, and they had an argument in the room, then she left....she would not go to the hotel clerk, i would predict that she would drive off immediately

I read a thing about a Tom Steeples who committed a similar crime in manner to this but was apprehended and is now deceased. Never was looked into if he was Tom Johnson.

[nicoge21]

didn't this guy die in 1997 in a car crash in africa?

btw, there's a school website out there that has a memorial for the girl who died, its on google somewhere

[Mysteryphile]

If that guy ever watched unsolved mysteries that accomplice might be dead already...if he'd kill one person over a computer, what would he do to someone that tried to foil his nefarious scheme?

[ontarioboi]

this was a sad sad case.....i believe they were going to sell the computerr to tom for about $30 grand. Which is a large amount. maybe tom worked in the computer industry somewhere in georgia. There are some people who like to take apart computer devices to make a better machine, most likely he was one of them.