"Tom Johnson" Murder Case - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

UMfan0682 · 11-06-2004, 09:11 PM

Hey everyone,

Anyone remember the case about a man found murdered in his office? All I can recall is he was found dead in the elevator, after being discovered by one of his office staff. When police investigated, they found an appointment for a "Tom Johnson" around 7:00 am. This was odd because the victim’s co-workers said he never met anyone that early unless it was important. He also received a phone call from this person. A pickup truck was spotted in the area as well.

Does anyone remember this case? The only thing I can't remember is the victim’s name. Any help would be great!

UMfan0682 · 11-07-2004, 02:37 AM

Going back to another post here on the boards, I made a little mistake. Tom Johnson is the alias of a man in another segment featured on Unsolved Mysteries. Sorry, I was confusing that name with this case. Anyways, I can't remember the name the suspect used in this story. I recall it was a common fake alias like "John Smith" or something along those lines.

Again, any update or help on the victim's name would be great. Any addition info is welcome.

crystaldawn · 11-07-2004, 08:45 AM

I believe the lawyer who was murdered's name is David Marifield. I don't know if there have been any arrests in this case.

Kane · 11-07-2004, 01:53 PM

The man that David Marifield was scheduled to meet went by the name of "Sam Jones." Indeed, the cops have not ruled out the possibility that it was an alias since "Jones" is a common surname.

UMfan0682 · 11-07-2004, 07:44 PM

Thanks to both of you for answering. This is another case I would like to see an update to. I remember now after taking the call, David Marifield seemed upset. I think they said one motive might be someone he came into contact with in a court case.

justins5256 · 11-08-2004, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by UMfan0682
Thanks to both of you for answering. This is another case I would like to see an update to. I remember now after taking the call, David Marifield seemed upset. I think they said one motive might be someone he came into contact with in a court case.

Yeah, I tend to doubt this though. Marafield was a real estate attorney. Hardly a dangerous subsection of law when compared to say criminal prosecution or defense.

Just two cents from a future lawyer.

Justin

mikem7715 · 01-02-2007, 01:05 AM

always expected to see an update on this one,sounds like a hit to me.He was only married a few months,i wonder if he had a big life ins policy? Maybe the wife,was she checked out?

mikem7715 · 01-02-2007, 01:08 AM

by the way,this case which was on UM favorites vol.6,is eerily similar to murder of mike emert Um favorites vol. 7. Both were involved in real estate.

hovaslash · 01-04-2007, 09:40 AM

Wasn't Tom Johnson the alias used by the man that scammed and stole that giant computer then attacked the young engaged couple that sold it to them?

crystaldawn · 01-04-2007, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hovaslash

Wasn't Tom Johnson the alias used by the man that scammed and stole that giant computer then attacked the young engaged couple that sold it to them?

You're right hovaslash. That segment always stuck in my head because the reenactment was quite violent with the hammer attack and also because the girl who was murdered was named Heather.....

hovaslash · 01-05-2007, 10:35 AM

Has there been any updates to the best of your knowledge Crystaldawn?
I'd imagine it's pretty tough to find anything when the assailant uses
such a non-descript alias.

crystaldawn · 01-05-2007, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hovaslash

Has there been any updates to the best of your knowledge Crystaldawn?
I'd imagine it's pretty tough to find anything when the assailant uses
such a non-descript alias.

As you can imagine I can't find anything about it on the net. Searching "Tom Johnson" on the internet gets you all sorts of things. Does anyone remember the victim Heather's last name and the town where it happened? Maybe I could do a search of unsolved homicides by state and find something.

Composite Sketch · 01-05-2007, 06:42 PM

The victim's name was Heather Ruffleman.

The murder happened in Georgia - Marietta I think. I'll have to double-check.

wiseguy182 · 01-08-2007, 07:15 PM

CrystalDawn, you might also want to check Tennessee. That is where Heather and her fiance lived. The murder didn't happen in TN, but since it was one of their residents, there might be some info in TN newspapers.

Yeah, I think the odds are that Tom Johnson is an alias. Somewhat related to this, it is interesting to note that I will occasionally do searches on the internet for some UM cases. What is weird is that some cases have an abundance of info on the net, and some others have none at all.

XiaoGouPi · 11-21-2009, 04:43 PM

Wow, its been almost 3 years since anybody posted here!!

Well, this Tom Johnson case has been lodged in my head for a very long time since I've seen it.

It is to me one of the most deliberate, heinous and uncalled for murders in the UM series.

This case is also sort of like a wake up call to Ebay sellers to think twice and the precautions you should take when you meet a buyer on the other end.

As for info on the case, I've tried to search everywhere, Google, Yahoo, Msn with all the aliases, the place where it happened, the victim's name, all yield nothing whatsoever. The only available link for any info on this case is this thread alone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiseguy182

What is weird is that some cases have an abundance of info on the net, and some others have none at all.

Now that alone, wiseguy182, is an UNSOLVED MYSTERY by itself. Anyway, it sucks and sad at the same time that some cases receive much more publicity than other cases. Kinda like it gives you the impression some victims' lives as worth as much as some others.

Without being kept in the media light, an unsolved case simply fades away from memory and is soon forgotten.

I think it is due to this reason alone many cases go cold and remain unsolved.

11-06-2004, 09:11 PM	#1
UMfan0682 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 11, 2004 Posts: 124	"Tom Johnson" Murder Case Hey everyone, Anyone remember the case about a man found murdered in his office? All I can recall is he was found dead in the elevator, after being discovered by one of his office staff. When police investigated, they found an appointment for a "Tom Johnson" around 7:00 am. This was odd because the victim’s co-workers said he never met anyone that early unless it was important. He also received a phone call from this person. A pickup truck was spotted in the area as well. Does anyone remember this case? The only thing I can't remember is the victim’s name. Any help would be great!

11-07-2004, 02:37 AM	#2
UMfan0682 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 11, 2004 Posts: 124	Correction... Going back to another post here on the boards, I made a little mistake. Tom Johnson is the alias of a man in another segment featured on Unsolved Mysteries. Sorry, I was confusing that name with this case. Anyways, I can't remember the name the suspect used in this story. I recall it was a common fake alias like "John Smith" or something along those lines. Again, any update or help on the victim's name would be great. Any addition info is welcome.

11-07-2004, 01:53 PM	#4
Kane Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 07, 2001 Location: MA, United States Posts: 3,367	"Sam Jones" The man that David Marifield was scheduled to meet went by the name of "Sam Jones." Indeed, the cops have not ruled out the possibility that it was an alias since "Jones" is a common surname.

11-07-2004, 07:44 PM	#5
UMfan0682 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 11, 2004 Posts: 124	Thanks Thanks to both of you for answering. This is another case I would like to see an update to. I remember now after taking the call, David Marifield seemed upset. I think they said one motive might be someone he came into contact with in a court case.

11-07-2004, 08:45 AM	#3
crystaldawn Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 17, 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,261	I believe the lawyer who was murdered's name is David Marifield. I don't know if there have been any arrests in this case.

01-02-2007, 01:05 AM	#7
mikem7715 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 87	always expected to see an update on this one,sounds like a hit to me.He was only married a few months,i wonder if he had a big life ins policy? Maybe the wife,was she checked out?

01-02-2007, 01:08 AM	#8
mikem7715 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 87	by the way,this case which was on UM favorites vol.6,is eerily similar to murder of mike emert Um favorites vol. 7. Both were involved in real estate.

01-04-2007, 09:40 AM	#9
hovaslash Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 10, 2006 Location: ma Posts: 87	Wasn't Tom Johnson the alias used by the man that scammed and stole that giant computer then attacked the young engaged couple that sold it to them?

01-05-2007, 10:35 AM	#11
hovaslash Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 10, 2006 Location: ma Posts: 87	Has there been any updates to the best of your knowledge Crystaldawn? I'd imagine it's pretty tough to find anything when the assailant uses such a non-descript alias.

01-05-2007, 06:42 PM	#13
Composite Sketch Staring at you Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 26, 2003 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 304	The victim's name was Heather Ruffleman. The murder happened in Georgia - Marietta I think. I'll have to double-check.

01-08-2007, 07:15 PM	#14
wiseguy182 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 11, 2006 Location: Wendy's salad bar Posts: 7,030	CrystalDawn, you might also want to check Tennessee. That is where Heather and her fiance lived. The murder didn't happen in TN, but since it was one of their residents, there might be some info in TN newspapers. Yeah, I think the odds are that Tom Johnson is an alias. Somewhat related to this, it is interesting to note that I will occasionally do searches on the internet for some UM cases. What is weird is that some cases have an abundance of info on the net, and some others have none at all.