On April 20, 2022, after a three-day trial, a George County jury found Justin George Johnson, 46, guilty of First-Degree Murder.
On April 20, 2022, after a three-day trial, a George County jury found Justin George Johnson, 46, guilty of First-Degree Murder. During the trial, the State presented testimony and evidence that Johnson brutally beat and strangled his wife, Marta “Dee Dee” Merdita Johnson, in the vehicle they shared, leaving her body inside for four days before she was found. The George County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force investigated the case.
Judge Dale Harkey sentenced Johnson to life imprisonment in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath stated, “The jury saw the truth and found the Defendant guilty of First-Degree Murder despite the Defendant’s efforts to continue to blame the victim. Dee Dee had a voice in the courtroom and today, justice was delivered. If you or someone you love is a victim of domestic violence, please know that there is help and hope. I encourage you to call the Gulf Coast Center for Non-Violence 24-hour hotline 228-435-1968 or 1-800-800-1396.”
Assistant District Attorney Carolyn Lewis stated, “Dee Dee was the victim of continuous domestic violence for many years at the hands of her husband. The wounds inflicted by the Defendant weren’t just to the victim but impacted the whole family. I hope today was a step towards healing for them.”
Assistant District Attorney Bill Barrett stated, “We appreciate the hard work of the George County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force on the investigation of this case. Their expertise in gathering evidence led to justice for Dee Dee.”
Carolyn Lewis and Bill Barrett represented the State of Mississippi in this case.