"Tom Johnson's" plans

[kane7474]

Originally Posted by Austin023

I found that odd, why Jeremy's face was hidden for the interview on the UM episode. I also have never found a picture of him (other than what is contained in the link you posted). A couple of pictures of his fiance Heather are easily found online, however.

The UM episode was aired sometime in early-mid 1994 and while both of the vicitm's names are put out, Jeremy's face is in silhouette--why?
I wonder. I feel there was some good reason, that he was either advised to do so or he himself thought there was still some kind of real danger out there.

The other big question I have long had with this case is---why was Jeremy's company selling this computer in the first place?? At that time, the Quadra 950, with all of its added power and features, etc. was not only very expensive and specialized for a specific market (music video editing)---it was a machine that had only been on the market for barely a year. Apple had released the Quadra 950 sometime around January, 1992, and this murder/robbery happened in October the same year. They could not have had it very long at all. Why were they selling it so soon?

In the episode, Jeremy remarks that "Tom Johnson" said something, after he pulled the gun, etc. to the effect that Jermey's "company would get an insurance check" as a result of the loss of the computer due to robbery/theft. I sometimes wonder if Jermey's employer was actually targeted or knew more than what has been let on.

It was not the kind of computer system that would be readily marketable on the black market, especially back then. I think sloppy investigative work was largely responsible for this case going unsolved.

Very interesting point about the computer. Why in the world were they selling it not that long after buying it? Could it be someone at that company was running an insurance scam and Jeremy was set up? That computer was fairly rare and would most certainly turn up if it was re sold. Unlesss this was all just some insurance scam.

[Cori aka ChrisSCrush]

I agree. No way in the world should they have lost track of that thing! It was a large, rare, and valuable item, and didn't it have a serial number?

[kane7474]

Originally Posted by Cori aka ChrisSCrush

I agree. No way in the world should they have lost track of that thing! It was a large, rare, and valuable item, and didn't it have a serial number?

I'm sure it did. Would have been easily identifiable. Whole thing makes no sense

[Austin023]

Originally Posted by Cori aka ChrisSCrush

I agree. No way in the world should they have lost track of that thing! It was a large, rare, and valuable item, and didn't it have a serial number?

Oh, the serial numbers of the CPU itself and the high-resolution monitor were kept by the owner and the authorities disclosed these to the public back then.

The Macintosh Quadra 950 CPU serial number is #F62164JW671
The 24" monitor serial number is #92020501

My guess is either the system was sent over-seas or kept by the killer or someone close to him. Its very surprising this case was not only left unsolved, but no apparent suspect emerged, publicly anyway.

(Off the record, authorities had a very good suspect named Tom Peebles, who died in prison in early 1994, after being charged with the double murder of a couple in TN or VA a year before--that double murder was eerily similar to the Marietta robbery/murder).

The ad for the computer was placed in a 'trade publication' in September, 1992. That right there would reduce the pool of potential buyers/suspects substantially.
The machine itself was very specialized; even without the special video editing software, it would be worth a handsome sum on the black market, but it would really only be of use to someone who had a special need for such a souped up computer back then.


Tom Johnson not only talked with Jeremy on the phone numerous times, but actually paid a visit to see the machine in Tennessee! Witnesses got a look at Johnson at the motel, his car was seen, he left behind the murder weapon.
I think sloppy investigation contributed to the case going unsolved.

[Austin023]

Originally Posted by kane7474

Very interesting point about the computer. Why in the world were they selling it not that long after buying it? Could it be someone at that company was running an insurance scam and Jeremy was set up? That computer was fairly rare and would most certainly turn up if it was re sold. Unlesss this was all just some insurance scam.

Yes, I have wondered if maybe the owner of the company Jeremy worked for was in on some sort of insurance scam involving the computer and for whatever reason, it backfired.
One thing that seems to stick out is apparently Jeremy was initially planning on meeting Tom Johnson alone at the motel in Marietta, but at the last minute, his fiance Heather decided to go with him as she was concerned Jeremy might fall asleep at the wheel on the four hour drive down to Marietta (they drove late at night, arrived in Marietta, GA about 730-8 AM).

I think Tom Johnson was not expecting two people to meet him---and lets remember that woman in the room next to where the attack happened, who complained to the manager about hearing yelling in room next to hers, which was the room where the attack later happened (by an hour). Clearly, things didn't go quite as planned for Tom Johnson...but why a company would be selling such an expensive system only months after acquiring it is odd. I could see if they were wishing to upgrade and desired to sell off their older stuff...but this was state of the art then. I am sure the police looked at this in itself as a bit odd, to say the least.

[TheMadMime]

Sorry to resurrect a dormant thread, but a lot of you were wanting to see a picture of Tom Steeples.

I found one, so I made a comparison graphic...

[Huskerz85]

Originally Posted by TheCars1986

There is no doubt in my mind that Tom Steeples was "Tom Johnson".

http://news.google.com/newspapers?ni...g=1335,4582636

Steeples murdered a couple 2 years after Heather's murder. He lied to them about being a "talent scout", and coaxed them into going back to his motel room. He bludgeoned the husband to death before raping the wife and then bludgeoning her to death. Steeples also worked at a computer supply store, and was the prime suspect in a business partner's murder. Steeples was arrested, and while waiting in jail for his trial, his wife smuggled in cocaine to him where he overdosed and died before ever even going to trial. So we'll probably never know for sure, but I'm 99.9% sold on the idea that Steeples was "Johnson". That would explain why he never resurfaced (since he killed himself in 1994), and it would also explain how "Johnson" was not just some one-time thrill killer and that he actually did it again 2 years later. Plus, his wife smuggling drugs into the jail to him makes you wonder whether or not she was the lady who reported the screams to the desk clerk.

Just saw this segment again and came here searching as I usually do. Definitely surprised to see this, but do agree Steeples = 'Johnson'.

Originally Posted by Austin023

The other big question I have long had with this case is---why was Jeremy's company selling this computer in the first place?? At that time, the Quadra 950, with all of its added power and features, etc. was not only very expensive and specialized for a specific market (music video editing)---it was a machine that had only been on the market for barely a year. Apple had released the Quadra 950 sometime around January, 1992, and this murder/robbery happened in October the same year. They could not have had it very long at all. Why were they selling it so soon?

In the episode, Jeremy remarks that "Tom Johnson" said something, after he pulled the gun, etc. to the effect that Jermey's "company would get an insurance check" as a result of the loss of the computer due to robbery/theft. I sometimes wonder if Jermey's employer was actually targeted or knew more than what has been let on.

It was not the kind of computer system that would be readily marketable on the black market, especially back then. I think sloppy investigative work was largely responsible for this case going unsolved.

If his employer wasn't engaged in some underhanded dealings (insurance fraud?), then one theory I have is that perhaps they bit off more than they could chew - the machine, while more than capable, was perhaps much more than they needed (or their activities weren't advanced/expansive enough to take full advantage of what it could do) ??? That might explain why they wanted to unload it.

Originally Posted by TheMadMime

Sorry to resurrect a dormant thread, but a lot of you were wanting to see a picture of Tom Steeples.

I found one, so I made a comparison graphic...

Freaky how close it is.

[LooksLikeCRicci]

Originally Posted by TheMadMime

Sorry to resurrect a dormant thread, but a lot of you were wanting to see a picture of Tom Steeples.

I found one, so I made a comparison graphic...

I based my opinion on more than just the side-by-side comparison, but yeah. I agree. They're one and the same.

[RobinW]

I've recently spoken with someone who was friends with Jeremy Rolfs in college, years before the murder. I learned that even though Jeremy was filmed in silhouette on UM and concealed his identity, a Nashville newspaper published this article the same night the segment aired and flat-out featured a photo of Jeremy's face, which seems rather odd.

[unsolved243]

I agree that Johnson and Steeples are almost definitely one in the same. Steeples looks very similar to the composite, he lived in Tennessee (Johnson's car had Tennessee plates), he owned a computer company, and he targeted and beat a young couple to death in a motel room.

This article has some more information about Steeples and his victims.

In 1975, Steeples was arrested on a rape charge in Memphis. The woman told police he beat her after a date and forced her to have sex in a van next to his apartment police records show. The woman chose not to prosecute for rape, so the charge was reduced to assault Steeples pleaded guilty to that and was sentenced to a year in jail, records show. In addition, his wife, Tillie Ruth Steeples, charged in a 1991 divorce petition that she witnessed her husband beating and attempting to rape a young woman in a makeshift teepee behind the couple's house.

It seems like his main method of attack is beating/bludgeoning, which happened to the victims in the Johnson case. The main outlier is that Heather wasn't raped, but then again, Steeples killed his business partner by shooting him and setting him on fire, so he doesn't seem to be 100% consistent with his methods and motives. Also, (just thought of this), Johnson presumably didn't know Heather was coming with Jeremy until they met him at the hotel. He might not have raped Heather because she was not originally part of his "plan" which was to kill Jeremy and steal the computer.

In another article, it mentions that a woman was with Steeples in another motel room when a story came on the TV about him being the prime suspect in the Phillips murders.

(The woman) said she really got worried when Steeples, upset over the TV newscast May 4, emptied a small bag he had brought to their room at the Ramada Inn on Spence Lane. Spread on the bed in the motel room were duct tape, gloves, nylon straps and a metal rod,

Fortunately, she left without Steeples harming her. It's possible that she could have ended up being another victim. This instance also seems to suggest that he likes to attack in motel rooms (which, of course, is where Jeremy and Heather were attacked).

[TheMadMime]

Originally Posted by RobinW

I've recently spoken with someone who was friends with Jeremy Rolfs in college, years before the murder. I learned that even though Jeremy was filmed in silhouette on UM and concealed his identity, a Nashville newspaper published this article the same night the segment aired and flat-out featured a photo of Jeremy's face, which seems rather odd.

That is kind of odd, but I guess your picture showing up in a local paper is not nearly as high-profile as appearing on national TV.

Sad that he was still so terrified and traumatized from the attack that he requested being shown in silhouette.

[tsaun]

Originally Posted by TheMadMime

That is kind of odd, but I guess your picture showing up in a local paper is not nearly as high-profile as appearing on national TV.

Sad that he was still so terrified and traumatized from the attack that he requested being shown in silhouette.

How did you find that Steeples picture Madmime?

[James T]

While it is impossible to be 100% sure the similarities in the picture & in the vehicle description etc make it a near certainty he was responsible. Just glad this parasite died.

[1990 UM fan]

So did anyone ever send in this tip?

[tsaun]

Sucks Jeremy isn't here to settle this