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http://www.webpronews.com/missing-lexington-man-the-ky-mystery-continues-2013-12

Missing Lexington Man: The KY Mystery Continues

"Alex is a “trustworthy” and “dependable” 32-year old who works as a chef at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. But when he didn’t show up for a work meeting on Saturday, Dec. 21, his family knew something was wrong.

“It’s completely out of character. He would never go more than a few hours without calling his girlfriend or family,” Cayce Johnson, Alex’s sister, said. “He’s never missed a work meeting or Christmas with his family.”

::snipping3::

On Monday, December 23, Alex did not show up for a preplanned shopping trip with his family in Bowling Green, KY. That is when confusion turned to fear for Cayce and the rest of the family.

“When he did not arrive that’s when we really knew something was wrong…He was really looking forward to coming home for Christmas” she said.

Today, Alex’s car still sits at his home and cellphone records show that he has not used his phone since Friday night, Dec. 20, when he last spoke to his girlfriend.

Cayce told the Huffington Post that Alex had no known enemies or desire to take off and leave.

“He’s a really great guy. He never met anyone he didn’t like and he never met anyone that didn’t like him. He is deeply loved by friends and family,” she said.

Lexington Police continue to question people and search for clues in a case they describe as “suspicious.”

“I want my brother back,” Cayce said. “My parents, they need their son back. They’re just, they’re completely heartbroken. We all are. Our lives have just been turned upside down.”

Alex Johnson is approximately 6 feet tall, 150 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes.

A Facebook page has been set up to aide in the mysterious quest to find Alex.

http://www.kentucky.com/2013/12/26/3005473/lexington-police-call-mans-disappearance.html
Relatives hope for good news after Lexington man's disappearance
December 26, 2013

(http://i.imgur.com/OPj42e9l.jpg)
Alex Johnson

 ::snipping3::
Johnson, 32, went missing Dec. 20, she said. He was talking to his girlfriend on the phone when there was a knock at his apartment door. Cayce said Alex told his girlfriend he would call her back.

Relatives became concerned after Johnson didn't return their calls or follow through with plans he made with friends for later that night. He also didn't make a Saturday meeting at the University of Kentucky, where he works as a campus chef.

Their fears became all too real as the days passed.

"He was supposed to come down Monday to go Christmas shopping," said Cayce Johnson. "But he didn't show up."

She said Lexington police have called Alex's disappearance suspicious but haven't explained why.

Alex Johnson's car remains at his residence on North Hanover Avenue, and cellphone records indicate he has not used his phone since Friday night, his sister said. Cayce said he doesn't have any enemies and is loved by all his relatives.
 ::snipping3::

http://www.wkyt.com/news/headlines/Crews-searching-river-for-missing-Lexington-man-238286641.html
Crews search river for missing Lexington man
December 31, 2013

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Two fire departments searched the Kentucky River near the Madison/Fayette County line for missing Lexington man, Alex Johnson.

Police say their investigation into his disappearance has them going down a checklist of possibilities and this was just one of them.
 ::snipping3::
Johnson works at UK. His family says it's unlike him not to be in contact with someone for this long, and police call the disappearance suspicious.

They say his cell phone or bank accounts have not been used in the last week.

Video at Link

I hope they find this young man.  His family is suffering and needs to know what happened and where he is.  The police say his disappearance is suspicious but nothing more than that.

Will keep his family and friends in my thoughts and prayers.

Find Alex Johnson Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/FindAlexJohnson (https://www.facebook.com/FindAlexJohnson)
(https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/525273_185743354954298_324996050_n.jpg)

(https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1530385_185743364954297_451382889_n.jpg)

(https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1513266_185743328287634_964195165_n.jpg)

https://www.facebook.com/FindAlexJohnson (https://www.facebook.com/FindAlexJohnson)

Find Alex Johnson
Yesterday
For anyone asking....Alex was growing his beard for a competition that is taking place in February. He normally is clean shaven.

I didn't read that on his facebook.  Thanks.  I know they are on the Kentucky river looking for him.  Sure hope they don't find him there.

I so hope the Lexington police is taking this disappearance serious.  Just read this article:

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/01/02/3015326/mystery-deepens-in-pre-christmas.html

Mystery deepens in pre-Christmas disappearance of Lexington man

 ::monkeyscissors::

 Almost two weeks after Alex Johnson's disappearance, a note is posted on the front door of his North Han over Avenue apartment: "Please call your sister. She's worried about you."

Johnson's family remains baffled after the Lexington man's disappearance last month.

"There are no leads at all," Johnson's father, Lee Johnson said during a telephone interview from his Bowling Green home. "We haven't heard anything at all.

"The Lexington police department are investigating but there hasn't been anything."





...I realize that the first thought police have is that this person is an adult and they probably just walked away leaving behind his car and bank account.  His family (and him are from my hometown)  are absolutely certain he would not just walk away.  The police would not confirm if they were looking for Alex out on the Kentucky river.  But posting a note on his front door to call his sister, she is worried, doesn't appear to me they are taking this 100% serious.  Just my thoughts.

I just thought that he looked so familiar and one of his middle school teacher posted on facebook that she taught him. Well guess what, my son graduated with him.  I knew he looked familiar to me.  They probably went to school together all 12 grades. 

It's just heartbreaking.  We read articles all the time about missing persons. However, when we look closely, we can see names, faces and lives.  Loved ones. People are missing and it's not a story nor is it just a statistic.   It's very real and it can happen to any one of us at anytime.  I have a son that's going to be 30 years old.  I put myself in the place of Alex Johnson's family and I think of what it would be like if it were my son missing under these circumstances.  From what I can read in the article, it's just not like  Alex to not show up at his job nor not be in contact with his family.  It would be the same for my son.  There are some very rare cases, where an adult may just walk away, but I believe so many times it's not the case.  The delay in searching can mean a difference.  I hope Alex can be found soon and found safe. 

His family should know his character and be very good judges of whether just "disappearing" voluntarily is something he would do. I wish there were something to go on. I hope he's alright and can be found soon. I can't imagine facing the disappearance of a loved one. Keeping Alex and his loved ones in my prayers.

How strange.  The front page has a disappearance of a Jena Chisholm from Florence, KY which is just 70 miles north of Lexington.  She dissappeared the night of Dec. 19, Alex Johnson disappeared the day of the 20th.  They traced her to Las Vegas and found her dog but not her.  Her phone was turned off when she got around St Louis.  I wonder if these 2 cases are related in any way?

I agree, Blue Moon. That is strange. Jena's been gone since the 19th and they found her dog in Vegas? I wonder who has been caring for the dog? I keep hoping there will be some word on Alex.....

CBB, they found Jena.  She called her mother about a couple hours ago.  She was in a casino with a guy who looked like a homeless person.  Still makes me wonder if that "homeless" guy was Alex because of his overgrown beard.  Probably not but it is just weird.  She had lots of friends from UK on her facebook, just makes you wonder.

There has been no new news on Alex. That is troubling.  His keys, wallet, cell phone are missing but his vehicle is in the driveway.  He had to have known whoever was at that door.  I mean, who kidnaps a full grown man and no neighbors noticed anything wrong.

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/01/04/3018161/billboard-seeks-info-on-alex-johnson.html

Billboard seeks info on Alex Johnson
January 4, 2014 Updated 6 hours ago

A billboard seeking help in the search for a missing Lexington man has gone up on Lexington Road in Nicholasville.

Alex Johnson, 32, disappeared the evening of Dec. 20 from his home on North Hanover Avenue. Lexington police and a family member said Saturday there have been no new developments in the search.
 ::snipping3::

https://www.facebook.com/FindAlexJohnson

Find Alex Johnson
Yesterday

The first of many billboards to go up.. This one is on Lexington Road in Nicholasville... about a mile outside of Lexington.

(https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/p296x100/1535553_186254234903210_770369408_n.png)

Other than the sign being put up in Lexington there doesn't appear to be anything new on Alex.  I sure do hope he is found soon.  The longer it goes on the worse it gets for the family and friends.

I read one comment on Facebook, they asked if the front door was locked or unlocked.  The reply was that the police doesn't want any info out on his disappearance.  I can understand that but they really have to give some information out in order to keep people looking for him.  To me, if the police don't care (which the family says they do) then this will just fall to the wayside and he will not be found. At this point no one knows anything about Alex except he disappeared.  The police should be giving updates on what is happening so everyone can see they are concerned and looking into this.  Heck, even the news is not picking up on this.  You can't ask people to find him if the police haven't given you anything to go on, like have they checked cameras in the area, did they see anything suspicious vehicles in the area, Do they believe he just walked away or do they believe he left willingly or unwillingly with someone, anything is better than nothing. 

I pray for his family and friends that he shows up soon and unharmed.

Heck, way doesn't the family call the NSA and check into his phone calls for the last week before he disappeared?  I mean, they seem to know every move we make anyway. 

(Bolded by me)
I too wondered if Alex's front door was found locked or unlocked, and had gone back to read through articles to see if I could find that information.  I see from the above post ^^^ that information isn't being shared.  I was wondering if someone lured him out of the house on some pretense.  Did someone ask him to go somewhere with them to see something or to assist them in some way, and that's why he had his keys, wallet and cell? As in he stepped back inside and got those things.   Or did he carry those things around with him most of the time at home?   My husband hangs his keys up when he comes in, and puts his wallet in the bedroom and his cell on the counter and that's where they stay until he goes out again.    My older son keeps all of those things in his pockets when he gets up and dressed in the morning until he goes to bed.  I wonder what Alex's habits were in that regard? Was he threatened when he opened the door and forced to go with someone?  Or did someone lure him away from his apartment on some pretext?   So many questions and no answers.  I hope Alex can be found soon. 

Yeah, I had wondered about the door also.  But if someone showed up at his front door, knocked, and he opened the door, he had to have known the person.  No neighbor remembers anything happening that afternoon.  It sounds like it was in broad daylight too.  Who does anything to an adult man in the daylight hours?  It is just a big mystery what happened to him.  I sure hope the big billboards draws attention to him and someone recognizes him and he comes home to his family. 

All I can do is repost this poster.

Nothing new today. 

I wonder, since they said his vehicle was in the driveway, if his bicycle was at home?  I read back through everything but I don't remember them saying his bike was home.

I also wonder why they have not called in someone like Texas EquaSearch to look for him?  Do they even think he is in the Lexington area?  I saw a comment about doing an international search?  What the heck!!!  Did he get on an airplane?  Just so many unanswered questions.

I didn't read anything new today either.  Found an old article with some specific information.  According to a friend, his truck and bike are still at the apartment.  Nothing was missing from the apartment, and the door was locked.  No bank account or cellphone activity since the day he went missing.  Hope LE gets a lead; it's been too long already.

http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Police-consider-Lexington-mans-disappearance-suspicious-237261861.html

Police consider Lexington man's disappearance suspicious
Updated: Thu 6:16 PM, Dec 26, 2013

 ::snipping3::
"They have just been absolutely horrible, absolute worst days of our lives, just the not knowing and feeling helpless. We're just sick, so worried about him," Cayce Johnson told us Thursday.

One of Johnson friends says his truck and bicycle were still at his apartment, but the door was locked and there was no sign anything had been taken from inside. Police also tell us there has been no bank account or cell phone activity from Johnson since he went missing.
 ::snipping3::

From Alex's facebook page (guess they have decided to take it to the next level):

 ::monkeyscissors::

https://www.facebook.com/FindAlexJohnson

"There will be a benefit to help Find Alex Johnson at Mellow Mushroom Lexington Thursday January 9th 7-11pm. More information to follow."

"Jessica Brooke Johnson What are the funds going towards?
Like · Reply · 2 hours ago via mobile

    Find Alex Johnson The billboards, private investigators, search dogs, and a reward.
    Like · 3 · about an hour ago"

"Anyone willing to donate anything for the raffle that will take place at the benefit to help Find Alex Johnson at Mellow Mushroom Lexington on Thursday, January 9th, please message this page. Thanks "

(Bolded by Me)
Thank you for finding this bit of information, grace-land.  This is a very suspicious sounding case.   ::MonkeyNoNo::

I hope the plans and efforts being made will be fruitful and Alex can be found safe and soon.  The circumstances of his disappearance bring so many questions, though. 

yeah, you are right--The circumstances are weird.  I am sure IF the police don't have anything to go on that they are thinking he just walked away.

I keep trying to remember what the weather was like during that weekend before Xmas and if I remember correctly we were having some rain but the temps were in the mid to high 60's.  I remember because we had to get a load of firewood and it was warm enough for us to leave the garage door open, my hubby split the wood and I unloaded it for him and stacked it in the garage.  The point I am making is I wonder if him and someone else decided to go to Red River Gorge to do some hiking or camping?  I know I read he liked doing that and was really adventurous. And as far as the knock on the door it seems to me that that knock could have had nothing to do with his disappearance at all.  What if he just walked somewhere close by?  There are just too many unanswered questions.  That river search has me worried.  The river does not run through Lexington.  It is at least 15 miles from Lexington.  If he ended up there then how did he get there.  Not by walking.  Someone had to have taken him there.  The final question IF someone took him there or anywhere else it had to have been because something bad happened.  If something bad happened and it happened because of the person who knocked on the door, why didn't they rob his home?  Something is just not right about this.  It doesn't make sense.  I wonder if they have checked with the airlines to see if he flew out of Blue Grass Airport?  He could have taken public transportation for that.  It seems the police have waited a long time to do anything (or it seems that way to me) that it may be too late to get any helpful information on him now.  JMO.

I checked this police crime map and it appears that Alex did live in a fairly safe area.  There were several happenings not far from his home on hanover street but nothing in his immediate neighborhood:

http://www.raidsonline.com/?address=Lexington,%20KY


put in hanover street, lexington, ky; and I check all the boxes and narrowed the search down to Dec 19-22.

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/01/08/3024112/mellow-mushroom-to-raise-money.html

Mellow Mushroom to raise money for family of missing man
By Justin Madden
January 8, 2014 Updated 35 minutes ago

Mellow Mushroom, 503 South Upper Street, will be donating 15 percent of sales Thursday to the family of 32-year-old Alex Johnson, who was a regular at the restaurant, according to Jody Schultz, front-end restaurant manager. The restaurant will also hold an auction, and patrons may drop donations into baskets. Donations will be collected throughout the day. Mellow Mushroom opens at 11 a.m. and closes at 11 p.m.
 ::snipping3::
-----------------
https://www.facebook.com/FindAlexJohnson

Jan Colbert What time is the raffle?
5 hours ago

Find Alex Johnson around 9
5 hours ago

https://www.facebook.com/FindAlexJohnson

Find Alex Johnson
7 hours ago

(https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p403x403/1000004_189277037934263_1194639805_n.jpg)

I don't know if this is true or not but it showed up on Topix Lexington:

http://www.topix.com/forum/city/lexington-ky/T4TABS3MTQE1TF2D5

 ::snipping3::

"JJJ
Bowling Green, KY
   
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#17
Tuesday
 
I am a close friend of the family and heard that the police did investigate the person who knocked on the door, the night he went missing. I also heard that the person quicky retained legal counsel and was not very cooperative with the police. Some say, it was just due to fear of the police, some say it's because of guilt. But no one seems to know why or what the motive would be, as nothing was missing from the apt aside from Alex's keys, wallet and cell phone. As for the girlfriend, she lived in another state, and had nothing to do with his disappearance. Her name is listed in the articles online, so the police aren't hiding anything. In fact, she is the one that set up the account on Facebook to help find Alex. His family is devastated by the lack of information, and have no idea what happened. Alex was a chef, highly intelligent, and didn't run with the wrong people. He was however; very generous and naive, therefore likely to put himself in harms way unknowingly. Billboards are starting to go up by the family in hopes someone will recognize him and call the police, but they need everyone's help in finding Alex. If you know ANYTHING about Alex's disappearance, please contact the police right away. Family and friends please continue to pray for Alex's safe return."

I have no idea if this is connected to Alex, I pray it is not:



http://www.wbko.com/home/headlines/Body-Found-in-Lexington-Storage-Unit-239422051.html

"Body Found in Lexington Storage Unit

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- A body has been found in a storage unit in Lexington.

Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn told media that his office was called to the Econo-Self Storage on Wednesday to help investigate. He says the body was taken to Frankfort for an autopsy that will be performed Thursday.

Lexington Police Lt. Eric Lowe said officers were called to the facility after a federal agency received a tip. He declined.............."

This storage unit is only 1.8 miles from Alex's home. 

I will continued praying for his safe return and for his family and friends.

The remains have been in the storage facility for long enough they had to bring in an anthropologist to examine the remains so it appears this could not be Alex, hopefully.  It is someone's loved one though and I hope they find out who they are and why this happened.

Video at the link

Missing Lexington man's girlfriend speaks out
Updated: Thu 12:53 PM, Jan 09, 2014

 ::snipping3::
Lisa Horobin said she's been dating Johnson for a year. She goes to college out of state, but spend about four months this past summer with him in Lexington. She called us Thursday, saying she and the family are still trying everything they can to keep Alex's name and face at the front of everyone's mind. Lisa said their last conversation together was normal, and Alex was excited to head to Bowling Green to see his family for the holiday's the next day. When Alex got a knock on the door, he said he's call her back later that night, but he never did.

"I think that is the worst because you have no idea. Everyone's mind just keeps going and you go through millions of scenarios in your head of what could have happened, where he could be. It's weird when none of them make sense," Harobin said.

Lexington Police are not commenting on this case, saying this is a missing person investigation. Horobin says police are doing everything they can to find Alex.
 ::snipping3::

It has been reported that Alex worked at University of Kentucky as campus chef.  This article is stating that he was an employee; however, I have read that he was a regular at the restaurant.

http://wuky.org/post/mellow-mushroom-raises-funds-missing-employeehttp://wuky.org/post/mellow-mushroom-raises-funds-missing-employee

12:45 pm  Thu January 9, 2014
Mellow Mushroom Raises Funds for Missing Employee

A Lexington pizza restaurant is raising funds to help search for a lost employee.

Mellow Mushroom says it is donating 15% of Thursday’s sales to help find Alex Johnson, an employee who went missing on December 20th.  Manager Jody Schultz says he was well-liked among the staff and this fundraiser is a way to help bring everyone together.

"It’s our way of coming together and telling the community, saying hey, we care about him, he was a good guy, we’re going to find some information no matter what, we’re going to keep looking for him," she said.

To increase turnout, the restaurant will also feature a performance by the Tallboys, a local band.

“Alex always went to a see them on Sunday nights," Schultz added.   "So when his girlfriend got a hold of them, they graciously said they would come here and play for, and so it would, kind of, get more people out.
 ::snipping3::

Now, that is really weird.  They have said all along he is a chef at UK.  Now it says Mellow Mushroom.  I guess Mellow Mushroom could be located at UK and he is a chef there?????

I am keeping an eye on the body found at the storage facility.  It has something to do with the social security agency and the feds.  Could be an older man that went missing but he, like Alex, hasn't been missing long.  The article appears to imply that the body has been there quite a long time. But they sure wouldn't give out any info on it at all.

My son did not graduate with Alex.  Alex was 1 year ahead of him and my nephew graduated with him.  I do remember seeing him around the high school though.  It is just so sad for the parents and his girlfriend.  I just cannot imagine what they are going through.  My prayers are still with them and hoping this comes to a good end for everyone.

A little more on the body found at a storage building:

http://www.lex18.com/news/police-financial-crime-investigation-led-to-finding-body-in-storage-unit/

 ::snipping3:: ::snipping3::


"Police: Financial Crime Investigation Led To Finding Body In Storage Unit

Police have confirmed that officials from the Social Security Administration Office were at the scene Wednesday night where a body was found inside a storage unit, looking into allegations of a financial crime.

They asked Lexington Police to come with them to serve a search warrant at Econo Self Storage on James Court near the intersection of New Circle and Winchester Roads Wednesday night.

Police confirmed they are working with federal investigators as well, but did not give any other details.

Police know who the person is who rented the storage unit and interviews are expected to follow in the wake of these new developments.

The medical examiner hasn't positively ID'd the remains, but they do say, based on their investigation, they have a pretty good idea of who it is. They say the remains are those of an adult, white male. No cause of death was determined during an autopsy Thursday.

Lexington Police discovered the body after acting on a tip ..........................................."

This is on the fund raiser they had in Lexington for Alex tonight.  My understanding is they will be putting one on here in Bowling Green where he and his family are from:

http://www.lex18.com/news/beneift-held-for-search-of-missing-man/

 ::snipping3::


Benefit Held For Search Of Missing Man

Friday marks three weeks since a Lexington man was last seen. As detectives continue to investigate the disappearance of 32 year old Alex Johnson, friends and family gathered for a benefit to help in the search.

Lisa Horobin was the last person to talk to Alex Johnson.

"I was supposed to be coming down here to spend three weeks with Alex, not three weeks looking for Alex," said Horobin, who is Alex's girlfriend.

She was on the phone with him when someone knocked on the door of his apartment on North Hanover, and he hung up. That was three weeks ago and still no sign of Alex. Now she's throwing a benefit to help search for her missing boyfriend.

"So just to see his favorite band and have him not be here and know so many people are here that love him and he's not here to celebrate it, it's really hard," said Horobin.

For Alex's parents, Lee and Judy, the last three weeks have felt like an eternity.

"It's probably the worst feeling a parent could have," said Lee Johnson who says he's not been to work since Alex disappeared. The search for his son has become his full time job.

"We're going to continue until something happens. We hope that's soon and we just pray we find him alive," said Alex's dad.

Alex was a regular at Mellow Mushroom, where the benefit was held. It was an experience a few months ago that touched the manger and prompted her to host the fundraiser.

"I just thought these guys were being jerks and it was just cool the way he pulled me aside and said I'm not with them but if need some help because he saw how upset I was and he kind of pulled me aside and I thought that was pretty cool," said Jody Schultz, the manager of Mellow Mushroom.

It's that kind of story that Alex's parents say keeps them going through this difficult time as they continue to plead for answers about their son.

"Maybe it's minor, might be ..................................

Video at the link

Fundraiser Held To Support Search For Missing Lexington Man
Published: 1/09 9:50 pm
Updated: 12:39 am

 ::snipping3::
The money raised at the Mellow Mushroom restaurant will help pay for a billboard that was put up in Nicholasville.

Friends said it will also help pay for search dogs that have been used.

For its part, Mellow Mushroom donated 15% of its sales Thursday to Johnson's family.

Video at the link

Nearly $2,700 raised to help find missing Lexington man
Updated: Fri 7:02 AM, Jan 10, 2014

 ::snipping3::
Thursday night was a night of mixed emotions at Mellow Mushroom in Lexington as Alex Johnson’s family and friends came together for a benefit.

Missing person signs with Alex Johnson’s picture hung on the restaurant doors outside while on the inside, the restaurant was packed to the brim.
 ::snipping3::
“We didn’t find out he was missing until Tuesday, Christmas Eve,” said Lee Johnson, Alex’s father.

“It’s really difficult. I was supposed to be coming down here to spend three weeks with Alex, not three weeks looking for Alex,” said Lisa Horobin, Alex’s girlfriend.

“All we are concentrating on is finding Alex. I haven’t been back to work since I found out about it and I’m not going back. We are not going to do anything except for work on finding Alex,” Lee Johnson explained.

After weeks of waiting, there are still no leads in the case which is why the fundraiser was held Thursday night; not only to raise money but to raise awareness to bring their missing loved one back home.

“It’s a parent’s worst nightmare. I always knew something like this would be a nightmare, I just never thought I’d be experiencing it. We are just trying to take it a day at a time. We are trying to keep our spirits up, keep hope alive and find him,” said Judy Johnson, Alex’s mother.

Along with the donations and raffle proceeds from the benefit, the manager at Mellow Mushroom says the restaurant donated 15% of Thursday night's sales. Together, the total raised was $2,693.

I know anyone can put anything they want on Topix but this showed up today:

http://www.topix.com/forum/city/lexington-ky/T4TABS3MTQE1TF2D5/p2


Heard Today
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#38
3 hrs ago
 
That a neighbor called police bc Alex was being beaten by two people outside his apartment in the day he disappeared. Maybe there are no leads bc the police never responded. Interesting that the person of interest (person at the door) left ky and went to Florida after being interviewed by police. There is a reason that the only things missing is his wallet, phone and keys. He thought he was in the presence of a friend. Someone he trusted. They may have not intended for this to happen, they may have just planned to rob Alex. I knew Alex and he did not deserve this. Questions need to be answered. I wish the moron talking about UFOs was right and he'd show up with a awesome story. I like to think he jump on one of his bike and ride off, bc the alternatives make me sick to my stomach. To think this could be someone I have been around and interacted with....it makes me ill. I pray for resolution.

I just scanned through everything I could think of on Alex and nothing new today.  In fact, it is dead silent on his facebook page and nothing on the local news.

IMO, this is not going to end good.  I think they need to start releasing some information if they have it so this can move forward.  I can't help but think that a search needs to happen.

I read Alex was suppose to meet up with some friends later that night.  Wondering if the police have questioned all his friends.

Nothing new today.  Only thing on his facebook page is someone "thinks" they saw him in new mexico and then someone thinks they saw him in Somerset (which is less than 2 hours south of Lexington).

I just don't understand why the Lexington police don't give any updates on what is happening.  I understand they need to keep certain things out of the public but come on now they need to update the community on what is happening here.  If they are having no luck at all then a private investigator needs to be brought in.  I don't understand why searches in the community haven't been done yet.

Maybe he will show up in New Mexico and be o.k. or better yet in Somerset which puts him much closer to home.

Oh, one thing I noticed that really doesn't make a lot of sense is his "Missing" sign has his photo without the beard.  Why did they not put a pic up with the beard along with a pic without the beard.

Just something I found strange.

I stand corrected, there must be 2 signs up, one with the beard and one without:

http://www.lex18.com/news/family-friends-continue-search-for-missing-lexington-man

O.K. nothing new on Alex at all.  Something is just not right about this.

The Topix posts I put out above (2 of them) the links do not work now.  When you go to the Topix-Lexington forum his whole thread is GONE!   WTH is all I can say. 

This whole thing is not adding up at all.  A grown man just vanishes without a trace.  I hope and pray he is o.k. but I am beginning to wonder if he just walked off on his own.

The police need to give an update on this.  He will never be found if someone does not come clean and tell what their thoughts are about what happened to him.  If they don't have any idea at all they need to do a press release and let everyone know.

I will keep praying for his safe return but having his Topix thread removed completely just doesn't give me a warm and fuzzy feeling.

Maybe someone got too close to the truth or maybe the police had them to remove it.  I just don't know what to think now.

Still looking for information about Alex.  Came across Topix site.  He is listed at the Lexington Form again--

http://www.topix.com/forum/city/lexington-ky

After clicking on "Alex Johnson missing" topic, found the following 2 posts:
http://www.topix.com/forum/city/lexington-ky/TIAHA4IGF4076G9IC

Joe T
Louisville, KY 
#1
3 hrs ago

Would someone in the Lexington area please let the family know about the events that led to the disappearance of Alex Johnson, 12/20/2013.
 
Family member
Louisville, KY 
#2
1 hr ago

Ditto. Please. 
 

I wish there was more information on Alex's disappearance too. Where is Alex?  And who has knowledge/information that they're not forthcoming with?  If someone knows or even has suspicions, they should go talk with the police, no matter how small the matter may seem.  It may be the one clue needed.  I personally believe the truth will come out.  It may take time, but eventually someone will talk.  I feel so badly for the family and his friends.  There are those that know or even have an idea of what happened and they are sitting on it.  How cruel and how selfish.  JMHO 

Thanks grace-land for putting that out there about the Topix posts.  I am really surprised that this site hasn't been asked to remove the copies of the 2 posts about Alex. 

I don't know what I think about having posts removed from Topix.  Maybe, just maybe, those 2 posts could help them solve what happened to Alex.  You never  know.  I am so hoping the police made contact with the person responsible for those posts.  Would serve them right if they knew nothing about Alex and got a visit from the police or FBI. 

Yeah, Muffy, I feel so bad for his family and girlfriend and friends.  He appears to be highly loved by all who came in contact with him.  Makes you wonder why would anyone want to harm this guy (if that is what happened). 

There are only two possibilities at this point that explains what happened to Alex:  1). He has just walked away and has chosen his path without informing his family and girlfriend......OR 2). someone he knows has brought harm to him in someway and that friend/friends are cowards and can't own up to what they have done.

Those two Topix posts could be the answer and I hope someone followed up to find out just who put those posts out there and see just what they know about Alex.  JMO

Checking Topix this morning.....there are now 6 comments....nothing really new....just
that people would like an answer to this mystery.

http://www.topix.com/forum/city/lexington-ky/TIAHA4IGF4076G9IC

Good morning Mere, good to see you.

No, nothing new.  It has gone dead silent.  I just don't know what to make of all this.  I don't, at this point, understand how a responsible person as Alex seems to be just disappears off the face of the earth.

I just cannot imagine how his parents are feeling and what they are going through.  Maybe we need to start looking for him here in B.G.  IF he just walked off maybe he walked off back home.  Just a thought.

I just wish the police would give an update and maybe give a little more information about why they think his disappearance is "suspicious".  That would help a lot right now.  If they don't do something soon this is going to fall by the wayside and Alex is going to be just a "bump in the road" of other missing people.  He is an adult and if they don't find anything to support a crime here then it will be dropped and forgotten.  I would truly hate that for his family and friends.  They are so positive that he would just not walk off and who else should know better than them.

All I can do at this point is keep updating this so other people will see it and not forget.

Hope you had a great Xmas and I wish you a fantastic New Year.

Here is an article that tells more about Alex, this helps to put this kind of information out there:


 ::monkeyscissors::


http://kykernel.com/2014/01/15/uk-chef-still-missing/

UK chef still missing

By Will Wright
wwright@kykernel.com

The search for a missing UK chef is continuing more than four weeks after he was reported missing to police.

Alex Johnson, a chef at the Hilary J. Boone Center, was last heard from on Dec. 20, said Lisa Horobin, his girlfriend, but no one has reported hearing from him since.

Johnson never showed up to a work meeting on the following Saturday, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.

“None of this has made sense at all,” said Johnson’s former neighbor, Josh Holt. “He had a very good head on his shoulders.”

Lexington police spokesman Sherelle Roberts said the search began after Johnson was reported missing on Dec. 20, and will continue until he is found.

In addition to the police search, a Facebook page, titled “Find Alex Johnson,” has been created to build awareness of his being missing.




Here is some more of the article:

 ::monkeyscissors::

..................."Johnson is an athlete and an outdoorsman who spends much of his free time hiking in places like the Red River Gorge.

“He loved to camp and hike, he loved the Gorge,” Horobin said. “We even camped out in the national parks in Yellowstone.”

In spring of 2013, Johnson completed the Redbud Ride, a more than 100-mile bicycle race.

Johnson is as kind as he is active, Horobin said, and he is well liked by people who knew him.

“He has a lot of really good friends. He’s just a really good guy,” Horobin said. “He would help anyone out at the drop of a hat, no questions asked.”"



Now this is the kind of information they need to get out there.  Good article.

http://www.wkyt.com/news/headlines/Friends-plan-to-mark-missing-Lexington-mans-birthday-240221351.html

Friends plan event to mark missing Lexington man's birthday
Posted: Tue 11:48 PM, Jan 14, 2014

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Nearly a month after his disappearance, there's still no sign of Alex Johnson.

Johnson hasn't been seen or heard from since December 20. He turns 33 on January 16 and his friends plan to hold a birthday celebration in his honor.

The event at Blue Stallion Brewing Company will include a balloon release and vigil.

Johnson's friends say they want to keep his name and face out there in order to bring him home.

The event begins at 7:00 p.m. on January 16.  ::snipping3::

Happy Birthday, Alex!  :smt113

https://www.facebook.com/FindAlexJohnson

Find Alex Johnson
11 hours ago

(https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1/p403x403/1011479_192895534239080_420606647_n.jpg)

Happy Birthday Alex.


Here's hoping you come home soon.

If you are out there please contact your family.

If someone knows what happened to Alex please, please call the Lexington police so Alex's family and friends have the answers they need.

BUMP.....................................



Nothing new on locating Alex.  I wish so much that his parents didn't have to go through this.  With no new news and the police are not releasing any information I am afraid this is going to become a missing adult who does not want to be found.

It is becoming very silent and when that happens they just become a statistic along with so many others.

I wish someone like Clinton Nelson's mother would make contact with Alex's girlfriend or parents, maybe they can console them some.

I hope he is found soon.  Prayers to the family and his girlfriend.

I had not read this poster on Alex, it was posted on Transylvania Facebook site on Jan 3:

https://www.facebook.com/TransylvaniaUniversityAlumni?hc_location=timeline

"Find Alex Johnson
Please share this on your page no matter your location & like the Find Alex Johnson– we need as much exposure as possible!

Alex Johnson (graduate of Transylvania) has been missing since 8:40pm on the Friday, December 20. He is now listed in the NCIC database as a missing person. We are desperate for any information about his whereabouts and deeply concerned for his safety.

Please call Lexington Division of Police tip line if you have any info on Alex. You can see pictures of Alex with and without his epic beard on the Find Alex Johnson page"



I didn't realize he was in the NCIC database and listed as missing.  I wouldn't think he would be listed in that database if the police thought he just walked away.  I would think that the police would have done an update on the investigation before now.  It has been a month since he vanished.

 

Nothing new today on Alex Johnson.  I see the police are going to give an update on Talika.  I am just wondering why the police are not giving an update on Alex.  If his disappearance is suspect then why not at least tell everyone they have some info to go on OR they don't have anything at all.

Someone asked on his facebook page if there were any searches being planned and the answer was the police are still searching.  I am just guessing that the longer this goes on the least likely it is that a search would do any good.  I just don't understand why a search hasn't been done before now.  They checked the Kentucky river----Why?  They must have had some kind of information that led them there, it is at least 16 miles from Lexington, a good distance.

I will continue to keep his family and friends in my prayers.

All I know, Blue Moon, is that you're right. I agree that if the police would start dribbling out even tidbits of information, it would help keep the story alive and keep his picture out there. Sadly, I also agree that as long as this has gone, with seemingly no new developments, it's not encouraging. I'm keeping Alex in my prayers!

Here is the latest from Alex's facebook page  ::MonkeyTears:: ::MonkeyTears:: :

http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Arrest-warrant-issued-in-missing-man-case-241317971.html

 ::snipping3:: ::snipping3::

Arrest warrant issued in missing man case

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - WKYT has just learned that an arrest warrant has been issued in connection to the disappearance of a Lexington man.

A source tells WKYT Robert Markham Taylor is wanted for murder, kidnapping, and tampering with physical evidence. There are three separate warrants out for his arrest.

Investigators have still not found Alex Johnson. He disappeared just a few days before Christmas.

The last time his girlfriend heard from him was on the phone. She told .............................





This just makes me so upset, I just knew this is how it was going to end up.
 
My prayers to his family.  They live less than a mile from me.

I guess the two postings on Topix were true.  That is probably why they removed it from the posting.

Blue Moon....I have been trying to find additional information on Robert Markham Taylor.  There is a huge data base of men with that name (the sites delete the "Markham") in the Lexington area.  Other than the WKYT article, there is nothing yet.

I am so sorry that this is ending this way.  Prayers to his family and friends.

So sorry to hear about the bad news about Alex.  ::MonkeyTears::   

Thanks Mere. I got enough from another website that a 2nd person was arrested for assisting in disposal and that these were friends of Alex's.  The 2nd person is Timothy Ballard.  He, too, supposed to be from Lexington but I also found one here in B.G.  Sure hope they are not from here and he went to school with them.  The article cut me off and asked me to sign up for the article.

Thanks Grace-Land.  When I found out he was from here I checked and they live less than a mile from me.

It is just so sad for the mother and father.

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/01/21/3044993/lexington-police-file-arrest-warrant.html

Lexington police file arrest warrant for murder in missing man's case
anuary 21, 2014 Updated 5 minutes ago

 ::snipping3::
Lexington police spokeswoman Sherelle Roberts said detectives issued an arrest warrant Monday.

Roberts said the warrant charges someone with murder, but there could be additional charges. She would not release an identity.

“At this point we’re not releasing the name, because doing so could compromise the investigation,” Roberts said.

She said the missing-person case has been completed, and it is being converted into a homicide investigation.
 ::snipping3::
In addition to the murder warrant, police made more progress in the case. Timothy Ballard was arrested on a charge of complicity to kidnapping and tampering with evidence. Court documents say Ballard, 42, assisted in the unlawful restraint and transport of Johnson and disposed of evidence. The offense is listed for Dec. 20, according to court documents.

Asked whether others could be arrested, Roberts said, “Those are the people who are personally connected to the homicide,” but “there is more than meets the eye in this particular situation.”

The investigation is active
 ::snipping3::

They have not found his body yet but I would suspect that that is the reason they were dragging Kentucky river.  The spot was below I-75 bridge over Kentucky river at Clays ferry.  Surely they did not dispose of him from that bridge.  It is very high up and the palisades are down there.  I get high-sick every time we cross that bridge.

You know, I guess they could have been looking for his cell phone and wallet since they have that Ballard guy for disposal.  They could have thrown that stuff off the bridge as they crossed it.

This is on Topix today:

http://www.topix.com/forum/city/lexington-ky/TIAHA4IGF4076G9IC

News at Noon
Frankfort, KY
   
Reply »
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Report Abuse
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Judge it!
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#9
1 hr ago
 
Anyone seen WKYT today? Arrest Warrant issued for Robert Markham Taylor. So looks like Heard Today was correct on the previous thread when they thought it was a friend of Alex's responsible for his disappearance. This a cousin of one of Alex "good" friends, who has acting strangely since Alex's disappearance. I feel so badly for Alex's family today. Prayers for closure and consequences for those involved. It makes me sick that I have been in the presence of these individuals.

More information...

http://www.lex18.com/news/murder-warrant-issued-in-connection-to-missing-lexington-man

1 hour 1 minute ago
Murder Warrant Issued In Case Of Missing Lexington Man

 ::snipping3::
LEX18 has learned one man is in jail and a murder warrant has been issued for another.

On Monday, homicide detectives got a murder warrant for Robert Marcum Taylor, who goes by Mark Taylor.

So far, Taylor has not been arrested, but according to court documents Timothy Ballard, who goes by Tiny, is in the Fayette County Detention Center charged with complicity to kidnapping resulting in the death of victim, and tampering with evidence.

They are the suspects in the disappearance of Alex Johnson who vanished from his Hanover Avenue home back on Dec. 20. The 32-year-old was on the phone with his girlfriend when he got a knock at the door and hasn't been seen or heard from since.

Timothy Ballard did nearly 20 years in prison on an armed robbery charge in 1992, a case where he was originally charged with kidnapping in that case, too. He is currently on parole was was in court Tuesday at 1:00p.m. to answer to the new charges.

e
Who would have ever guessed that Ballard was on parole?  Did 20 years on armed robbery?  Did that kidnapping result in death also?  Surely it did cause 20 years is a long time for armed robbery.

I saw on his facebook page that the owner of Mellow Mushroom was telling about an incident in the restaurant with some individuals giving her a hard time and Alex asked her if she wanted him to take care of them for her, he said he wasn't with them but he would talk to them to see if he could get them to stop harassing her.  I wonder if this incident led to this happening?

Very sad news.   ::MonkeyTears:: 

More:  (BBM)

http://www.lex18.com/news/murder-warrant-issued-in-case-of-missing-lexington-man


Murder Warrant Issued In Case Of Missing Lexington Man

 ::monkeyscissors::

......................................................

Both Taylor and Ballard are suspects in the disappearance of Johnson who vanished from his Hanover Avenue home back on Dec. 20. The then 32-year-old was on the phone with his girlfriend when he got a knock on the door, he hung up to answer and hasn't been seen or heard from since.

Timothy Ballard did nearly 20 years in prison on an armed robbery charge in 1992, a case where he was originally charged with kidnapping, too. He appeared in court Tuesday afternoon.

The murder warrant for Mark Taylor was also issued Monday. Taylor moved to Lexington from South Florida a few years ago and befriended Johnson.

Lexington Police aren't commenting on the developments as the investigation is far from over, but based on the charges the suspects are facing, the assumption has to be Johnson isn't coming home. But police are closer than ever to giving thousands of Johnson's friends and his family answers about what happened to the UK chef five days before Christmas.

Hmmm..I wonder what Roberts meant by the statement "there is more than meets the eye." 

Statement from the Johnson Family...

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/01/21/3044993/lexington-police-file-arrest-warrant.html

Lexington police file arrest warrant for murder of Alex Johnson, who disappeared in December
By Justin Madden
January 21, 2014 Updated 8 minutes ago

 ::snipping3::
Asked whether others could be arrested, Roberts — identifying only Ballard — said: "Those are the people who are personally connected to the homicide," but "there is more than meets the eye."

The investigation remains active

The court documents say Ballard pleaded not guilty to the charges Tuesday during an arraignment. He was being held in the Fayette County Detention Center on a $253,000 bond. His next court date is scheduled for Jan. 29.

Ballard has been in Lexington since 2009 on parole from Alabama, according to an email from Kentucky Department of Corrections spokesperson Lisa Lamb. He was released on parole Feb. 2, 2009, from Alabama after serving 17 years of a 25-year sentence for first-degree robbery.
 ::snipping3::
On Tuesday, Lee and Judy Johnson of Bowling Green, Alex's parents, released a statement through O'Daniel, a family friend.

The statement said the Johnson family "would like to thank all of Alex's friends, the Lexington police, the local media, and the people of Lexington who have helped and supported us in our search to find Alex. Please continue to keep him and us in your thoughts and prayers as we try to find him. We ask that you please respect our privacy as we continue to search for Alex."

Shortly after Johnson's disappearance, residents were concerned that the neighborhood wasn't safe. Roberts said it's important to know that Johnson's slaying "wasn't random." She stopped short of saying that Johnson and the murder suspect were friends.

"They knew each other," Roberts said. "I think it's important for people to realize this wasn't a stranger."

Let me see if I have this right---They have a guy in custody for helping to dispose of evidence, whether that be Alex or his keys, wallet and cell phone; they have also issued a warrant on 3 separate charges of murder on another individual----Now what the $ell did they do with Alex and why doesn't the police know where he is? 


I just will not venture to guess what they did with his body.

Grace-land, it just does not make sense-that comment about more than meets the eye.  What more could it have been?  Kinda sounds like lots of "friends" were there when it happened.  Also, if that Topix post earlier I put out is true then Mark Taylor was the person knocking on the door, was questioned by police, lawyered up, fled to Florida and sounds like he took Alex with him.  Southern Florida is at least a 12 hour drive, he could have disposed of him anywhere in a 1000 miles.  JMO only but this all I can make of it.

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/01/21/3044993/lexington-police-file-arrest-warrant.html

Lexington police file arrest warrant for murder of Alex Johnson, who disappeared in December
January 21, 2014 Updated 29 minutes ago

(http://media.kentucky.com/smedia/2014/01/21/14/20/mDgog.AuSt.79.jpg)
Timothy C. Ballard

 ::snipping3::
No body has been found, but detectives issued an arrest warrant Monday. Roberts said the warrant charges someone with murder, but there could be additional charges. She would not release an identity.

"Doing so could compromise the investigation," Roberts said.

But Steven O'Daniel, a spokesman for Johnson's family, said police are looking for a man named Mark Taylor of Lexington.

In addition to the murder warrant, police arrested Timothy Ballard, charging him with complicity to kidnapping and tampering with evidence.

O'Daniel said the family had heard of Taylor and Ballard only in the last three weeks.
 ::snipping3::

this is supposedly a picture of Mark Taylor:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BehwHTcCIAAAQDJ.jpg

January 21, 2014 Tweet from Josh Breslow WLEX

https://twitter.com/JoshBreslowWLEX

Josh Breslow ‏@JoshBreslowWLEX  8h 
Here's a picture of Mark Taylor, the man wanted for murder in connection w/ disappearance of Alex Johnson. #Lexington pic.twitter.com/TONUl3MHJc

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BehwHTcCIAAAQDJ.jpg)

Josh Breslow ‏@JoshBreslowWLEX  9h 
DEVELOPING: Murder warrant issued for Robert Marcum Taylor (aka Mark Taylor) in disappearance of Lexington man, Alex Johnson.
 @LEX18News

Is it just me or does he look like Justin Timberlake?

He is suppose to have a facebook account but I have tried every combination of his name and I cannot find it.  Someone said on his facebook page that he works in Lexington at 2 different shops?? and they named them.

O.K., on facebook someone says this guy works at Soundbar in Lexington and also Riptide.  Riptide is closed now and surprise, it is located under I-75 bridge outside of Lexington where they did the search on Kentucky River early on.  I couldn't find anything on Soundbar other than it being a bar.

Very sad to see the recent developments in Alex's disappearance.   

My heart goes out to his family, I hope they find him soon.

::MonkeyNoNo:: ::MonkeyTears::

Me too, texasmom, me too.  Now that we have reason to believe Alexis was kidnapped and murdered, I dread to hear the details of the crimes committed against him.   ::MonkeyNoNo::  The facts and the truth need to see the light of day, and Alex and his family, friends and co-workers deserve no less.  We can't bring Alex back but there still needs to be a reckoning.  I'm praying for justice for Alex.   ::MonkeyAngel::

http://kykernel.com/2014/01/22/police-investigate-homicide-of-missing-uk-chef/

Police investigate homicide of missing UK chef
January 22, 2014

 ::snipping3::
Steve O’Daniel, a private investigator hired by the Johnson family, said the police are looking for Robert Markham Taylor, 28 in connection with the murder of Johnson. O’Daniel does not know Taylor’s current location, but said he has been in Lexington for years.

“We’d love to find him, and I’m sure the police would love to find him,” O’Daniel said. “We do know (Taylor and Johnson) knew each other; we’re not exactly sure how.”
 ::snipping3::
O’Daniel, who works investigations all over Kentucky, said he has become a family friend in the process of investigating.

“The family is just trying to get a handle on this,” he said. “This has been devastating.”

It is too early in the case to settle on a motive, O’Daniel said, and additional information on Taylor has to be held until the police are more certain of his whereabouts.

Gerald Marvel, general manager of the Boone Center, said on Tuesday that to his knowledge, none of Johnson’s coworkers expected or had suspicions of a kidnapping.

“He’s always been a very dependable employee,” Marvel said. “By all accounts he was a kind soul.”

Johnson, who had worked at the Boone Center since shortly after its reopening in 2008, was well liked by his coworkers, Marvel said.

Marvel is looking into grief counseling options for his employees, he said.

“(The investigation) has brought an unfortunate conclusion to this case and we’ll just have to work this process through the courts,” O’Daniel said. “The main thing we’re concerned on is finding Alex.”

This is just so bad.  I just cannot imagine the pain his family is going through.

If the first post from Topix I put out above is correct then he skipped town and went to Florida after getting a lawyer when the police questioned him.  That was the 1st of 2 Topix comments I posted that were later erased.

I just hope they will be able to find him.  This family needs answers and they need to be able to bring their son home and give him a proper burial.

This Mark Taylors picture is out there and his facebook page is out there also.  Would it not be appropriate for his picture to be posted by the police so they get him before he just disappears? I understand from his facebook page that he is from St. Pete, Florida.

I just have an awful feeling they will never find Alex and that would be an injustice for him and his family.

I cannot imagine what they did to him and why they felt they needed to do this.

I also wonder why someone from Florida comes to a college town like Lexington.  I also wonder how a convict from Alabama comes to Lexington and just how he and Taylor hooked up.  Their backgrounds seem so different from each other. 

I am trying to find why I read this but the private investigator has been with the family almost from the start and if I read the article correctly he is the one who furnished the police with info that got Tim Ballard arrested and the murder charge against Taylor issued.  I wonder what the detective found that the police didn't?

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/01/22/3047446/friends-relatives-struggle-to.html

Friends, relatives struggle to come to grips with the death of Alex Johnson
January 22, 2014 Updated 1 hour ago

As she sat in her office Wednesday afternoon, Angela Baldridge struggled not to cry when asked what she'll remember most about Alex Johnson.

Baldridge, a close friend of Johnson's, is still in disbelief after Tuesday's news that Lexington police turned a missing-persons case into a homicide investigation.

Johnson, 32, disappeared Dec. 20 after his girlfriend said he ended a phone call with her by saying he needed to answer the door at his home on North Hanover Avenue. Johnson's disappearance became a missing-persons case after relatives became concerned when Johnson didn't return calls or follow through with plans he had made with friends that night. He also didn't attend a meeting at work the next day.

"It's hard to imagine somebody would want to hurt him," said Baldridge, who has known Johnson for 13 years. "I can't imagine anyone having any ill will towards him."

As of Wednesday, police had not arrested anyone in Johnson's death.

On Tuesday, police spokeswoman Sherelle Roberts confirmed police obtained an arrest warrant for someone, but said identifying that person would be harmful to the case. On Wednesday, Roberts said police still were not ready to release the identity. Several news outlets have identified the suspect as Robert Markham Taylor, 28, of Lexington, who also is known as Mark Taylor. And Steven O'Daniel, a spokesman for Johnson's family, has said police are looking for a man named Mark Taylor.

Roberts would not say Wednesday whether a body had been found. Fayette County coroner's office officials said they did not find a body. Roberts also would not say whether police have launched a multi-state search. She previously said that the murder suspect and Johnson knew each other.
 ::snipping3::

Trying to find this but on Alex's facebook page someone says Lex18 says they have arrested Mark Taylor in Texas.

Now to find Alex.  ::MonkeyTears:: ::MonkeyTears::

Here it is:

 ::snipping3::

Murder Suspect Arrested In Case Of Missing Lexington Man

The man wanted in connection to the disappearance of a Lexington man has been found and arrested in Texas.

Authorities in Pharr, Texas, located and arrested fugitive Robert Markham Taylor on Wednesday who was wanted in connection to the kidnapping and homicide of Alex Johnson.

Johnson had been missing since Dec. 20, 2013, and was considered a missing person until Jan. 21, 2014, when investigators determined his disappearance was the result of a kidnapping and subsequent homicide.

Homicide detectives in Lexington filed a murder warrant for Robert Markham Taylor, who goes by Mark Taylor, on Monday.

Another man, Timothy Ballard, who goes by Tiny, was arrested Monday and is in the Fayette County Detention Center charged with complicity to kidnapping resulting in the death of a victim, and tampering with evidence. Ballard's bond has been set at $253,000 and he has asked for a public defender.

Lexington Police have not given any details as to how the investigation led to the suspects and their connection to the crime. It is also not clear if Johnson's body has been found...............................

http://www.lex18.com/news/murder-suspect-arrested-in-case-of-missing-lexington-man/

This is a good article about Alex:

Friends, relatives struggle to come to grips with the death of Alex Johnson
By Justin Madden and Erin Simon
jmadden@herald-leader.comJanuary 22, 2014 Updated 12 hours ago

 ::snipping3:: ::snipping3::

......."It's hard to imagine somebody would want to hurt him," said Baldridge, who has known Johnson for 13 years. "I can't imagine anyone having any ill will towards him."

As of Wednesday, police had not arrested anyone in Johnson's death.

On Tuesday, police spokeswoman Sherelle Roberts confirmed police obtained an arrest warrant for someone, but said identifying that person would be harmful to the case. On Wednesday, Roberts said police still were not ready to release the identity. Several news outlets have identified the suspect as Robert Markham Taylor, 28, of Lexington, who also is known as Mark Taylor. And Steven O'Daniel, a spokesman for Johnson's family, has said police are looking for a man named Mark Taylor.

Roberts would not say Wednesday whether a body had been found. Fayette County coroner's office officials said they did not find a body. Roberts also would not say whether police have launched a multi-state search.....................

 ::snipping3:: ::snipping3:: (from same article)

"We are working hard on the case, and we want to solve it, obviously, without harming the investigation more than it may already have been at this juncture. We are just kind of following up," Roberts said Wednesday.




(BBM:  I wonder what they mean by harming the investigation more than it may already have been?)

Forgot the link to the above article:

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/01/22/3047446/friends-relatives-struggle-to.html

Man, Pharr, Texas is almost at the Mexican border.  Imagine if he got in Mexico.  They would have never brought him back to Lexington!

 ::monkeyscissors:: ::monkeyscissors::


Murder Suspect In Case Of Missing Lexington Man Arrested In Texas

The man wanted in connection to the disappearance of a Lexington man has been found and arrested in Texas.

Authorities in Pharr, Texas, located and arrested fugitive Robert Markham Taylor on Wednesday. Taylor was wanted in connection to the kidnapping and homicide of Alex Johnson.

Pharr is nearly 14,000 miles from Lexington and just blocks from the Mexican border.

Lexington Police sent local police there a photo of Taylor and a possible location at a motel. When investigators there went to check it out, Taylor allegedly spotted them and jumped into a car.

He was stopped just a block from the border where police found several pounds of marijuana in his car......................


http://www.lex18.com/news/murder-suspect-arrested-in-case-of-missing-lexington-man/





Wow, found several pounds of Marijuana in his car...............Makes you wonder why the Tiny guy stayed behind instead of running also.

The above article really has a bad error---it says Pharr is 14,000 miles from Lexington----it should be 1400 miles.


Can you imagine killing someone and then running off to Texas, almost in Mexico, and thinking you won't be caught?

Some people are just so stupid.

Now, what did they do with Alex's body?  I just hope they have or will tell so this family and friends will have closure.  I am just so afraid to know what they did to him.  JMO

Thanks for the good news, Blue Moon!  Now we have to find Alex and bring him home to his family.  With so many charges against both men, maybe one of them will cooperate with the LE.  I hope.

http://www.valleycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=997900#.UuF9j1_nbIU

Kentucky murder suspect arrested at motel near Pharr bridge
Posted: 2 hrs, 31 mins ago

(http://www.valleycentral.com/uploadedImages/kgbt/News/Stories/Robert_Markham_Taylor_PHPD_400.jpg?w=440&h=330&aspect=nostretch)
Robert Markham Taylor // Pharr Police Department Photo

A Kentucky murder suspect is behind bars in the Rio Grande Valley after authorities found him at a motel near the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge.

Pharr police arrested 28-year-old Robert Markham Taylor on an oustanding warrant from Kentucky on Wednesday night.

Investigators told Action 4 News that they received a call from the Lexington Police Department in Kentucky advising them that Taylor was staying at the Motel 9.

The hotel is located less than half a from the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge.

Officers arrested Taylor at his motel room where they also reported finding several pounds of marijuana inside his vehicle.

Taylor is expected face marijuana charges in Pharr but is expected to be extradited to Kentucky to face the murder charge.
 ::snipping3::

I am so glad this man was caught.  Thanks to all of you for the articles.

Wonder if he was driving in south Texas with a KY license plate.....and hopefully the KY LE had his info out there all along the border.

I believe Pharr is about 30 minutes from the border.

I just hate that they have taken a person with sparkling eyes and a wonderful smile from his friends and family.

Thanks Grace-land, and yes, they need to allow Alex's family to bring him home.

I am worried about the charges without a body.  I just hope that they did not prematurely bring charges because they saw he was running for the border.  Without a murder charge they would not have had a reason to stop him and detain him (of course, him having pounds of marijuana was a bonus for them).

I am worried about the comment I bolded above, that harming the investigation more than it already has.  Sounds like the police were not happy about the PI being involved and the PI was the one who gave evidence to the police.  I still haven't found that article where it states that.  Surely they have proof positive that Alex was murdered. Surely.

wow....the Motel 9 is right there by the border....here is a link to a google map for the area....

http://goo.gl/maps/Ru782

http://www.valleycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=997900#.UuF9j1_nbIU

Suspect wanted for murder in case of missing Lexington man is arrested in Texas
January 23, 2014 Updated 2 hours ago

 ::snipping3::
Authorities in Hidalgo County, Texas, located and arrested fugitive Robert Markham Taylor on Wednesday. Taylor, 28, of Lexington will be scheduled for a court appearance in Hidalgo County for an extradition hearing. He was arrested by police in Pharr, Texas. Taylor's extradition will be arranged by the Fayette County sheriff, which is standard procedure.

Taylor is being held in the Hidalgo County jail in Edinburg, Texas, as a fugitive based on warrants issued from Lexington on charges of murder, kidnapping and tampering with evidence.

Police also charged Taylor with possession of marijuana.

Lexington police Spokeswoman Sherelle Roberts said Taylor didn't have any connections in Texas, and the investigation remains open for the "last piece." She didn't specify what that piece is.

Roberts did say that Johnson's body has not been found.

The Fayette County sheriff's office, acting on credible information, notified Lexington police of Taylor's possible location.
 ::snipping3::

I know Mere, he was going to make a run when the police caught him.  Wow, they sure did cut it short.  I really don't believe he would have gotten across the border very easily.  Makes you wonder if he crossed the border to buy the marijuana being that close.  I wonder how long he had been down there.

I would think that LE would have to have reasonable information/evidence to bring a charge of murder.  Of course, bringing a charge of murder and proving it in court are two different things.

That last piece to the puzzle is finding Alex.  Oh, I pray they find him.

I am afraid he will fight extradition which would cause this to be drug out for months.  The Kentucky police will have to fight him in court to get him extradited back.  If they don't have a body then it could drag out for a while.

http://goo.gl/maps/oF6KA

This is a map link for Lexington to Pharr.  Google gives you three possible routes although I do see more
possible routes, having driven from KY to LA often and having family in TX. 

One of the routes is less than a mile from my home.  I always think of how many of us live near the Interstates and use them often.  If given the information by LE, I look for vehicles and licenses whenever
I am on the road.

Praying that he is found.

It had to be I65 route.  They had a thing on TV the other night telling about I65 being a corrider for drugs.  It is bought from Texas/mexico and then travels through Kentucky to points north.

I65 inspection stations are always catching semi's loaded with drugs moving them from the south.

Meth is the problem here in B.G.  They are constantly finding meth labs and they cannot seem to eradicate them.  When they close down one they have 3 more spring up.

Transporting marijuana across state lines is bad.  He will pay for that crime also.

This was just on Topix:

http://www.topix.com/forum/city/lexington-ky/TIAHA4IGF4076G9IC/p2

eddiec
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im glad everyone has fallen in love with this guy and even had a fund in his name,,,these guys that did this knew him,,,,sooooooo just saying maybe he wasn't mr nice guy crooks and drug dealers don't just kill for fun,,,,,,and his girlfriend playing stupid like she don't know more,,,,,it will all come out just wait and see



**they sure do come out of the woodwork.  Wonder which one he was a friend of?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/23/alex-johnson-missing_n_4654045.html

Alex Johnson Missing: Timothy Ballard, Robert Taylor Arrested In Chef's Death
Posted: 01/23/2014 3:54 pm EST  |  Updated: 01/23/2014 4:37 pm EST

 ::snipping3::
"I can say that up until [Jan. 21] this was considered a missing person case," Lexington police spokeswoman Sherelle Roberts told The Huffington Post on Thursday. "At that time we developed the evidence, as well as probable cause, to transition [it] into a kidnapping [and] homicide case."

Of the missing body, Roberts said investigators still have hopes of recovering it.
 ::snipping3::

You know, it sounds like they know where Alex is but don't know if it is recoverable.  Wonder if it is the landfill?

I don't know, Blue Moon.  I understood "recovering" as finding his body.  :smt102

http://www.theeagle.com/news/texas/article_b6c0ca57-7f99-5ffb-ae81-d0576a6dfae1.html

Man charged with murder arrested in Texas
Posted: Thursday, January 23, 2014 1:52 pm |  Updated: 4:08 pm, Thu Jan 23, 2014

 ::snipping3::
Lexington police say Robert Markham Taylor was arrested Wednesday in Pharr, Texas. Authorities there say he is also charged with marijuana possession and is to be arraigned Thursday afternoon. Extradition will be arranged with the Fayette County sheriff's office.
 ::snipping3::

That was my first thought too bluemoon, when I read the article you posted that said he was arrested in Pharr.  Pretty darn close to Mexico. 

Might be related or might not be. But I have a feeling it is.

http://www.wlextv.com/news/coroner-called-to-scene-of-murder-investigation-in-kentucky-river/ (http://www.wlextv.com/news/coroner-called-to-scene-of-murder-investigation-in-kentucky-river/)

i think you may be right, map,...  http://goo.gl/maps/4mE9C
from the article, taylor almost got away, cant find the article i read,but it was a
tip to KY-LE, that led to where taylor was

Thanks, that would be Alex.  Riptide is where Mark Taylor used to work from what I read, see an earlier post where I checked out Riptide.  The business is closed now.

That is the I-75 bridge over the Kentucky River.  It is about 15 miles south of Lexington.  This is where they searched back at the beginning.

It is about 5 degrees today.  I do not envy them.  I just hope they find him.  That river is bound to be frozen in some places.

That article above says it could take 3-5 months to extradite Taylor back to Kentucky.

That sucks!  But I guess it is in the hands of the courts now.

I wonder would they call the coroner out if they had not found anything?  I don't think they did the last time.

I don't see why the coroner would be called unless something was found. But just MO. I am near Lexington and have been following the case. Tragic.  ::MonkeyTears::

Yes it is tragic.  I am in Alex's hometown, his family lives just down the road from me, my son and nephew went to school with him.  I just cannot imagine the pain his family and girlfriend are going through.  I hope they can bring him home and lay him to rest and I hope justice prevails for Alex.   ::MonkeyTears::

Search has ended. No confirmation on what was found.

http://www.wlextv.com/news/search-ends-in-kentucky-river-homicide-investigation/ (http://www.wlextv.com/news/search-ends-in-kentucky-river-homicide-investigation/)

This might be the bridge...looking at it from the bar

http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/riptide-restaurant-bar-lexington?select=gxqVI9S_NHvD__CWNjOqAQ#gxqVI9S_NHvD__CWNjOqAQ

(http://s3-media1.ak.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/gxqVI9S_NHvD__CWNjOqAQ/l.jpg)
Uploaded May 19, 2013

Thanks.

I wonder if they found him.  See this facebook posting and picture that Alex's sister Caycee put up.  It absolutely broke my heart for her.  Someone asked if they found him, no one answered.

https://www.facebook.com/FindAlexJohnson

According to this they did find what they were looking for:    (BBM)

 ::monkeyscissors::


Search Ends In Kentucky River Homicide Investigation

Lexington Police have confirmed they found what they were searching for in the Kentucky River Friday afternoon. They did not clarify what they were looking for, but the coroner's office had been called out to the scene.

The Fayette County Coroner's Office confirms they were called out to the Kentucky River near Riptide Restaurant Bar where Lexington Police were conducting a search related to a homicide investigation.

Lexington Police did not release many details about the search and did not say what case the search was connected with, but did say it is connected to an ongoing homicide investigation.............................

http://www.wlextv.com/news/search-ends-in-kentucky-river-homicide-investigation/

I can't tell from the article what evidence was found.

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/01/24/3050518/lexington-police-fire-searching.html

Police: Evidence in Lexington homicide case recovered from Kentucky River
January 24, 2014 Updated 33 minutes ago

Lexington police say crews that dove into the Kentucky River Friday afternoon recovered evidence related to a homicide investigation.

Lt. Brian Maynard, who works in robbery and homicide, said the department's forensics unit took the evidence and will examine it. Police did not say what the evidence is.

Crews had gathered near the Clays Ferry exit of Interstate 75 early Friday in preparation for their search. A Lexington fire department dive team went under water around 3 p.m. and found the evidence in about 15 minutes. The evidence was in about four feet of water near the shore, Maynard said.

Police spokeswoman Sherelle Roberts said about 24 people from the police and fire department had been at the Kentucky River since about 8 a.m. The Fayette County Coroner also was on the scene.
 ::snipping3::

 ::MonkeyTears::

https://www.facebook.com/FindAlexJohnson

Find Alex Johnson
about an hour ago

My big brother on his graduation day in 2005 from Transy. He was the sweetest, kindest brother anyone could have had. I couldn't have adored or loved him more. May he forever rest in peace. We miss you, Alejandro. Our hearts are forever broken without you.

(https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1/s403x403/62023_197174090477891_1113812088_n.jpg)

What kind of evidence does a coroner examine?

 ::snipping3::

http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Lexington-police-coroner-back-at-scene-of-Alex-Johnson-search-241827131.html

Evidence found in homicide case near search scene for Alex Johnson
Updated: Fri 4:34 PM, Jan 24, 2014

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Lexington police and the Fayette County coroner have now cleared the scene of an investigation along the Kentucky River after the tell us divers recovered evidence connected to an on-going homicide investigation.

Investigators tell us the coroner will now be examining that evidence .........................................

Did you see the following response?


Jennifer Gray I don't no him and my heart is broken too for his family I could not do without my brother in my life
1 · 2 hours ago
..

Find Alex Johnson There's nothing like a brother. Hug yours a little longer for me. Thank you for your kind words.
26 · 2 hours ago

Yeah, I read that.  She is such a pretty person and looks so happy with her big brother.  How awful for this family.  Why does things like this have to happen?  I just don't understand.  No matter what the circumstances are he did not deserve to die. 

I continue to pray that they find comfort with each other and with their memories of their son/brother/boyfriend/ friend.

 ::MonkeyAngel::

http://www.wkyt.com/news/headlines/Lexington-police-coroner-back-at-scene-of-Alex-Johnson-search-241827131.html

Body found near search scene for Alex Johnson
Updated: Fri 5:53 PM, Jan 24, 2014


 ::snipping3::

 The Fayette County Coroner confirms evidence recovered from the Kentucky River Friday afternoon is a body. Lexington Police removed the body from the river as part of an on-going homicide investigation.

The coroner did not release the name of the person or a cause of death. The body has been taken to the State Medical Examiner's Office in Frankfort.

Police blocked off an area along Old Richmond Road leading to the river for most of the day.

Just a few weeks ago, police and Lexington firefighters searched the river in the same area for the body of Alex Johnson. The Lexington man disappeared from his North Hanover Street home on December 20th. ...........................



 ::MonkeyMad:: ::MonkeyTears:: ::MonkeyTears:: ::MonkeyTears:: ::MonkeyTears:: ::MonkeyTears:: ::MonkeyTears:: ::MonkeyTears::

I don't know what to say.  I so wanted him to have just run off.

 ::monkeyscissors::

http://www.wkyt.com/news/headlines/Lexington-police-coroner-back-at-scene-of-Alex-Johnson-search-241827131.html


Coroner Releases More Information In Kentucky River Search

The Fayette County Coroner's office said Friday evening a person was pronounced dead at the scene of a search in the Kentucky River in connection to a homicide investigation.

The cause of death and an identity are listed as pending. The Coroner's Office said more information will be released Saturday.

Lexington Police said earlier Friday they found what they were searching for in the Kentucky River Friday afternoon, but did not clarify what that was. However, the coroner's office had been called out to the scene on the Kentucky River off Old Richmond Road near Riptide Restaurant Bar.

Lexington Police did not release many details about the search and did not say what case the search was connected with, but did say it is connected to an ongoing homicide investigation.

 ::rhino:: ::MonkeyAngel::

It's so sad isn't it?  I was holding on to the last ounce of hope...maybe...somehow... it will have a happy ending.  :sad:

It is sad.  It is just breaking my heart into.  I still follow Natalee but it took me a long time not to be consumed by her disappearance.  I just did not want to get involved as much as I had with Natalee but this one hit so close to home.

There are so many disappearances in this world and lots have happy endings but the majority do not.  I look at Beth and I knew in my heart I did not want to see another family live with knowledge that they cannot bring their child home.  The Johnsons will be able to bring their child home now (Thank GOD).  I just wish it had been different for Beth and Dave.

You know, I have to give a lot of credit to Alex's girlfriend and family.  They shared everything about Alex to the public.  They showed how much he was loved by taking to Facebook.  They defined him before the public or courts could define him in their twisted way.  Now, no matter what bad comes out of this it doesn't matter.  They shared him with all of us and we feel like we know him now.  He was someone's son, friend, boyfriend and he was loved.

Social media takes on a whole new meaning in cases like this.

Thanks for letting us know who Alex was and not allowing the media, public or courts to do it.

 ::rhino::

Some information about MT

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/01/23/3048442/suspect-wanted-in-missing-lexington.html

Suspect wanted for murder in case of missing Lexington man is arrested in Texas
January 23, 2014

 ::snipping3::
Ballard's connection to Taylor also is unclear.

According to court documents and interviews with friends, Taylor has lived in both Florida and Kentucky.

In 1998, Taylor, then 13, moved in with his grandmother, who received guardianship of him that August. Taylor, who had lived with his mother in Saint Petersburg, Fla., moved to Lexington to "receive a good education and home life," according to court documents.

He attended Tates Creek Middle School and lived with his grandmother for a year in her two-story brick home near Tates Creek Road. His mother died in 2007, and his grandmother died in 2009.

Taylor's uncle Howard Spurr told the Herald-Leader that his nephew was raised by "a lot of people" and spent most of his life in Florida.

"It's a sad situation," Spurr said of his nephew's arrest.

Until Thursday's arrest, Taylor had not faced more than minor traffic offenses, according to Fayette County court records.

It's unclear where Taylor worked. David Jones, owner of Soundbar on South Limestone, said Taylor was a "part-time employee of Soundbar during a portion of the calendar year 2012. His employment with Soundbar began and ended in 2012."
 ::snipping3::

There is a press conference today.  I haven't been able to find out what time.

Just found a tweet about the press conference today..

January 25, 2014 Tweet
https://twitter.com/HLpublicsafety

HLpublicsafety ‏@HLpublicsafety  21m 
The Fayette County coroner's office will have a press conference at 4 p.m. about evidence that was pulled from the Kentucky River on Friday.

Thanks grace-land, I don't want to miss this.

I would say since it is Lexington then it is eastern time zone.  I am in central so 3:00 for my area.

If anyone see's where to watch this live let me know.  I don't get Fayette County stations.  I have looked but can't find one.  May have to wait until the press conference is over and they post it.

I have LEX18 and WKYT up hoping either one of them have it.

Haven't found anything online with the PC live yet.

Yeah, me either.  I am clicking between the main news stations.

On twitter...

https://twitter.com/HLpublicsafety

HLpublicsafety ‏@HLpublicsafety  1m 
@kyduchess It won't be televised. But follow our timeline, we'll be tweeting live. And checkout http://Kentucky.com  for the story.
View conversation      Reply 
 
 HLpublicsafety ‏@HLpublicsafety  7m 
We're waiting for Fayette Co. Coroner to tell us about the evidence that was pulled from the Kentucky River Friday. pic.twitter.com/1srCESrc6I

Thanks a bunch.  Looks like might be able to see him on their video.

Live updates...

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/01/25/3052172/live-updates-fayette-county-coroner.html

LIVE UPDATES: Fayette County coroner on homicide-case evidence found in Kentucky River

January 25, 2014 Updated 1 minute ago

I have to leave...will catch up later...  ::jeep3::

Thanks.

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/01/25/3052172/live-updates-fayette-county-coroner.html

HLpublicsafety @HLpublicsafety
[Fayette Co. Coroner]
Lexington fire department was able to recover the remains in a blue barrel on the river bank.
ReplyRetweetFavorite
2m


 HLpublicsafety @HLpublicsafety
[Fayette Co. Coroner]
Lexington police have confirmed the evidence found at the Kentucky River is the body of Alex Johnson.
ExpandReplyRetweetFavorite

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/01/25/3052172/live-updates-fayette-county-coroner.html

 HLpublicsafety @HLpublicsafety

[Fayette Co. Coroner] Was called out to the river at 10:06 a.m. By 2:40 p.m. he could tell the barrel had human remains by looking in a hole

8m
HLpublicsafety @HLpublicsafety

[Fayette Co. Coroner] Johnson was found fully clothed and with some money. The coroner wouldn't say how much.
Expand

13m
HLpublicsafety @HLpublicsafety

[Fayette Co. Coroner] Johnson died of blunt force trauma to the head and body. He was found in a 55 gallon barrel.
Expand

14m
HLpublicsafety @HLpublicsafety

[Fayette Co. Coroner] The autopsy was concluded around lunch time. The family of Johnson identified his body within the last two hours.
Expand

15m
HLpublicsafety @HLpublicsafety

[Fayette Co. Coroner] Was able to identify Johnson by his pictures. His body had minor decomposition.
Expand

18m
HLpublicsafety @HLpublicsafety

[Fayette Co. Coroner] Believes Johnson, 32, had been in the river about a month. He went missing Dec. 20.
Expand

19m
HLpublicsafety @HLpublicsafety

[Fayette Co. Coroner] Lexington fire department was able to recover the remains in a blue barrel on the river bank.
Expand

21m
HLpublicsafety @HLpublicsafety

[Fayette Co. Coroner] Lexington police have confirmed the evidence found at the Kentucky River is the body of Alex Johnson.
Expand

 ::MonkeyNoNo:: ::MonkeyTears::

Rest in peace, Alex.   ::MonkeyAngel::

I'm glad his family will be able to bring him home and give him a proper burial. 

My thoughts and prayers are with them.

Justice for Alex!   ::justice2nj2::

How absolutely awful to have been beaten to death and then disposed of in such an inhuman way.   ::MonkeyMad::

How horrible that his family had to see him this way. How could this not haunt them for the rest of their lives.   ::MonkeyTears::

Prayers go out to them. 

 ::MonkeyAngel:: ::MonkeyAngel::

RIP Alex  ::MonkeyTears::

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/01/25/3052172/live-updates-fayette-county-coroner.html

Body found in Kentucky River identified as that of Alex Johnson

By Justin Madden

jmadden@herald-leader.com January 25, 2014 Updated 2 hours ago

Alex Johnson's body was found in 4 feet of water inside a 55-gallon blue barrel near the shore of the Kentucky River, Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn said at a press conference Saturday.

Johnson, 32, disappeared Dec. 20 after his girlfriend said he ended a phone call with her by saying he needed to answer the door at his home on North Hanover Avenue in Lexington.

 ::snipping3::

Ginn said Johnson died from blunt-force trauma to the head and body, adding that he was able to identify Johnson from photographs and dental records, which were already at the coroner's office.

The coroner's office was called to the river at 10:06 Friday morning. Ginn said he was able to confirm that there were human remains inside the barrel from looking through a hole at 2:40 p.m.

"We believe he's been in the barrel at least a month," Ginn said. "He was fully clothed and had some money on him." He would not specify the amount of money.

Ginn said that although the barrel had been underwater at one point, it was found floating.

The autopsy was concluded about noon Saturday, and the family identified Johnson a few hours later, Ginn said.

Police have refused to comment about a motive in the slaying.

 ::snipping3::

https://www.facebook.com/FindAlexJohnson/posts/197771210418179:0?stream_ref=1

Find Alex Johnson · 14,312 like this
2 hours ago ·

    This is Mahgee, the victim who doesn't understand where her daddy went. Alex loved this cat more than anything in this world. She had spent three days outside by the time we found her and she cried for him the whole ride home. Poor baby.

Poor little Mahgee, she looks so sad. ::MonkeyTears::

It is just so sad.  What causes someone (Mark Taylor) to do something like this when he didn't have really any kind of record.  I would venture to guess drugs were involved in some way but it still doesn't make sense that someone ruins their life when they never had a record to begin with.  Look at how many lives have been ruined over this. 

Rest in Peace, Alex.   ::MonkeyAngel::  ::MonkeyTears::

My deepest sympathy to his family and friends.

Video of the press conference today

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBDvXL-CV9E

Fayette County Coroner releases information about Alex Johnson's body
Published on Jan 25, 2014

Video at the link

http://www.lex18.com/news/body-of-alex-johnson-recovered/

5 hours 17 seconds ago
Body Of Alex Johnson Recovered

The Fayette County coroner confirmed Saturday that police have recovered the body of Alex Johnson.

The coroner says the cause of death was murder by blunt force trauma.

"There are injuries to his body from some type of weapon or some type of means to hit someone with. It wasn't with a fist or something like that," said Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn.

32-year-old Johnson was last seen over a month ago.

Investigators say they found the body Friday in the Kentucky River. The search centered at Riptide on the River, off Old Richmond Road. Police also searched that location on New Year's Eve.

"The Lexington Fire Department special operations found a blue barrel in the Kentucky River which they had been asked to look for by the Lexington Metro Police," said Ginn.
 ::snipping3::

Rest In Peace Alex ::MonkeyAngel::

My heart felt sympathy to his family & friends. ::MonkeyAngel::

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/01/25/3052172/live-updates-fayette-county-coroner.html

Missing man Alex Johnson's body was found in Kentucky River, coroner says
January 25, 2014 Updated 1 hour ago

 ::snipping3::
Ginn said Johnson died from blunt-force trauma injuries to the head, adding that Johnson was identified from dental records, which were already at the coroner's office, as well as thumbprints and DNA.
 ::snipping3::
Taylor is charged with murder, and Pharr police also charged him with marijuana possession after several pounds of it were found in his vehicle. The extradition process to return him to Lexington is expected to begin soon. Taylor was being held in Hidalgo County Jail on a $50,000 cash bond.

In addition to Taylor, police have charged Timothy Ballard, 42, with complicity to kidnapping and tampering with evidence. A preliminary court hearing for Ballard, who has pleaded not guilty, is scheduled for Wednesday.
 ::snipping3::
Johnson, a chef at the Hilary J. Boone Center at the University of Kentucky, was a native of Bowling Green and moved to Lexington to attend Transylvania University after graduating from Greenwood High School in 1999. He wanted to move to Lexington because he wanted to be in a larger city, his father, Lee Johnson, said. He graduated in 2005 with a degree in Spanish and a minor in mathematics.

The only things missing from Johnson's apartment were his keys, wallet and cellphone, his father said. His green Ford Ranger pickup, covered with snow, remains outside the building. Lee Johnson said the family had gathered some items from his son's apartment, including his cat Mahgee, who is named after the rock band My Morning Jacket's song Mahgeetah.
 ::snipping3::
Johnson's funeral arrangements are pending with J.C. Kirby & Son Funeral Chapel in Bowling Green.

I had just looked on JC Kirby's to see if anything on Alex was there.  I just didn't really know if they would bring him back here or in Lexington.  I am glad to hear they are bringing him home.


Now, the long road is ahead of the family.  Justice is not always swift and this is the road they have to endure next because Alex deserves justice.............. ::justice2nj2::

Was there mention anywhere about finding his keys, cellphone and wallet?

You know, they found the cat outside so that means Alex opened the door and the cat walked out.  He wasn't going anywhere when he opened that door or he would not have let that cat out.

Thank you for checking on the funeral home, Blue Moon.  I think there will be more information about it this week.

There hasn't been any mention of finding his keys, cellphone, or wallet.  However, some money was found in the barrel.  Will keep looking for articles...the LE is probably not sharing all of the details with the public.

Just thinking...in the past week, both suspects were arrested and are in jail and Alex was found...justice is coming!  ::justice2nj2::

http://www.wtvq.com/content/localnews/story/Coroner-Alex-Johnson-s-Body-Found/vZ8DrR75_k6besoNldvOlQ.cspx

Coroner: Alex Johnson’s Body Found
Published: 1/25 6:12 pm   
Updated: 12:21 am

The Fayette County Coroner confirms investigators have found the body of Alex Johnson.

Crews spent Friday searching the Kentucky River near Clay’s Ferry.

Friday the coroner would only say evidence was recovered from the Kentucky River.

Saturday he said that evidence was a barrel with a small hole he could look through.  He said he thought he saw human remains but because of the bad weather, he didn’t want to open the barrel and risk loosing evidence.

Saturday afternoon at the medical examiner’s office, the coroner said he opened the barrel and found Alex Johnson’s body.

“People are cruel,” said Gary Ginn, Fayette County Coroner, “This is the result of somebody being very cruel,”
 ::snipping3::
“The person or persons that took his life did put him in the barrel and put the barrel in the river,” said Ginn.  “We think that happened fairly close to the time of his death.”
 ::snipping3::

this is our local news station.  It says J.C. Kirby & Sons are in charge and he will be laid to rest here:

http://www.wbko.com/home/headlines/Missing-Mans-Body-Identified-242001261.html

Missing Man's Body Identified
Updated: Sat 10:45 PM, Jan 25, 2014


 ::snipping3::

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) -- The Fayette County Coroner confirmed Saturday that investigators recovered the body of Alex Johnson in the Kentucky River on Friday.

Johnson has been missing since December, and police spent Friday searching the river at the Fayette-Madison County line for evidence.

It was found in a blue barrel near Rip Tide on the River off Old Richmond Road. Coroner Gary Ginn was able to identify the body as Johnson's by his left and right thumb prints. Blunt force trauma injuries to the head are the cause of death.

 ::snipping3:: ::snipping3::

"There's a sadness in our community. A lot of people have been looking for Alex and I'm sorry that he has died," Ginn told WKYT.

Taylor is held in a Texas detention center. A hearing will be scheduled to discuss extradition back to Lexington.

Johnson will be laid to rest in Bowling Green.




(BBM)

Notice what the coroner said. How nice of him to make that statement.

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/01/26/3053888/funeral-arrangements-for-alex.html

Funeral arrangements for Alex Johnson include memorial service in Lexington
January 26, 2014 Updated 1 hour ago

Funeral services have been set for Alex Johnson, 32, who went missing from his North Hanover Avenue home Dec. 20 and whose body was recovered Friday from the Kentucky River.

Visitation will be 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home on East Main Street. A memorial service will follow.

There also will be visitation Thursday and Friday in Bowling Green, Johnson's hometown. It will be 1 to 9 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at J.C. Kirby & Son Lovers Lane Chapel. Services will at 2 p.m. Friday at the chapel. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery.
 ::snipping3::

Funeral arrangements for Alex Johnson include memorial service in Lexington
By Mary Meehan
mmeehan1@herald-leader.comJanuary 26, 2014 Updated 1 hour ago

Funeral services have been set for Alex Johnson, 32, who went missing from his North Hanover Avenue home Dec. 20 and whose body was recovered Friday from the Kentucky River.

Visitation will be 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home on East Main Street. A memorial service will follow.

There also will be visitation Thursday and Friday in Bowling Green, Johnson's hometown. It will be 1 to 9 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at J.C. Kirby & Son Lovers Lane Chapel. Services will at 2 p.m. Friday at the chapel. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery.

Johnson, a chef at the University of Kentucky, disappeared after his girlfriend said he ended a phone call with her by saying he needed to answer the door at his home. Family members and friends publicized his disappearance for weeks, including creating a Facebook page and putting up billboards, in hopes of finding him alive. ....................

 ::snipping3::

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2014/01/26/3053888/funeral-arrangements-for-alex.html#storylink=cpy
http://www.kentucky.com/2014/01/26/3053888/funeral-arrangements-for-alex.html






Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2014/01/26/3053888/funeral-arrangements-for-alex.html#storylink=cpy

grace-land, we must have seen this the same time.

http://www.jckirbyandson.com/mem_1.html


Here is the funeral home's obit:
 
 
Alex C. Johnson, 32, of Lexington, Kentucky died December 20, 2013. Obituary information is currently imcomplete.

 

A visitation will be held in Lexington on Tuesday from 2 until 6 p.m. with a memorial service to follow at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home, 463 East Main Street. Visitation will also be held in Bowling Green on Thursday from 1 until 9 p.m. and on Friday after 9 a.m. until service time at the J.C. Kirby & Son Lovers Lane Chapel. Funeral services will be held on Friday at 2 p.m. at the Lovers Lane Chapel with burial in Fairview Cemetery.

 

Arrangements have been entrusted to the J.C. Kirby & Son Lovers Lane Chapel.
 
 
 
 
 
 
           

Yes, we were there at the same time. lol

The article stated that there will be visitation and a memorial service in Lexington and visitation, service, and burial in Bowling Green.  It's so thoughtful of his family--in their time of grief--for including his friends in Lexington by giving them an opportunity to pay their respect to Alex.
 

It is very thoughtful.  He lived there almost 13 years, he lived here 19 years.  Lexington was his home but I am glad his family is bringing him home to be close to them.  I really don't think they could have laid him to rest in Lexington being so far away (only 2 hours away but a long ways to sit at and visit a grave site). His friends deserve the chance to pay their respects, they went to extremes to find him.

Here is Alex's updated obit:

http://www.jckirbyandson.com/mem_1.html   



Alex C. Johnson, 32, of Lexington, Kentucky passed away December 20, 2013.

The Bowling Green, Kentucky native was born January 16, 1981 and was a graduate of Greenwood High School and Transylvania University. He had resided in Lexington for the last fourteen years.

Alex was a man of many talents and interests. He loved nature, spending much of his time camping and hiking in the Red River Gorge. His green thumb resulted in gardens, bonsai trees, herbs, cacti, and orchids. He believed in conservation, buying locally and biking to work. His love of travel took him all over the world and to many states, and his talent for and love of music led him to many concerts. He was naturally talented in art and language. He enjoyed playing numerous sports, especially soccer and participating in biking races. An avid reader, he usually had a book on hand.

He was kind and gentle free spirit with a keen sense of humor and adventure. He loved his family and friends. He will be missed more than words could ever express.

He is survived by his parents Lee Bernard and Judy R. Johnson and his sister Cayce, all of Alvaton; grandparents Roy and Sammy Ragland of Bowling Green; four aunts, Elizabeth Westbrook (John) of Alvaton, Rebecca Merideth (Ronnie) of Culleoka, Maebelle Cook (Harold) and Sue Morris (Butch) of Franklin; his uncle John Ragland of Alvaton , numerous cousins, and a special four-footed friend Mahgee. He was preceded in death by grandparents Tom and Claudine Johnson and his uncle Thomas Franklin Johnson.

In Lexington, visitation will be held Tuesday, January 28, at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home, 463 East Main Street, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. followed by a memorial service. In Bowling Green, visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Friday at J. C. Kirby & Son, Lovers Lane Chapel. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home with burial in Fairview Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Kentucky Nature and Wildlife Fund, the Bowling Green Warren County Humane Society, and the Lambda Chi Alpha building fund.

   
   
                              

Alex's memorial video...   ::MonkeyAngel:: ::MonkeyTears::

http://jckirbyandson.com/vid_01.html

Thanks TM.  I sat through that earlier.  Bought tears to my eyes.  Alex's mom was my son's teacher in school.  I didn't realize she was a teacher until seeing this video.  Asked my son if he remember her, he said, Yes, she was one of the "good ones".  They looked so innocent when they were young. 

I haven't located anything on Mark Taylor being extradited back to Kentucky.  I just wonder if he will fight it.  If he fights it it could take up to 3-5 months, if he doesn't fight it it could take a few days.  I hope he doesn't fight it.

I noticed Alex's Facebook page is now "JUSTICE FOR ALEX".

https://www.facebook.com/FindAlexJohnson


I hope justice comes swiftly for him.  I hate to see the family and girlfriend suffer through this.

Thank you, texasmom, for posting the Alex's memorial video.   ::MonkeyAngel::

Blue Moon, it was reported in the video below that MT is waiting for a hearing to determine when he will be brought back to Kentucky.  I agree with you, I hope he doesn't fight it.

http://www.wkyt.com/news/headlines/Memorial-service-for-murdered-Lexington-man-242470831.html
Memorial service for murdered Lexington man
Updated: Tue 6:14 PM, Jan 28, 2014

 

Video at the link -- Alex's father spoke to the reporter on camera.

http://www.wkyt.com/news/headlines/Memorial-service-for-murdered-Lexington-man-242470831.html

Emotional memorial service held for Alex Johnson
Updated: Tue 11:31 PM, Jan 28, 2014

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - For weeks they searched for him, but on Tuesday friends and family of a murdered Lexington man gathered to remember him and pay their final respects.
 ::snipping3::
“Different people got up and told stories about Alex and talked about him. Some of them were funny but the best part was just hearing those stories,” said Alex Johnson’s dad, Lee Johnson.

At Alex’s memorial service there was no shortage of stories shared. “I was really surprised the number of people. We had a huge crowd,” Lee Johnson told us Tuesday.

Ever since Alex disappeared on December 20th, his friends and family have led the way in search efforts by holding fundraisers and even a birthday party for Alex in an attempt to hold out hope in the bleakest of situations.

Even when the missing person's case turned into a murder investigation, it was his group of friends who rallied around Alex’s family in support.

Friends have helped Alex’s family through the toughest days by letting them know that as long as they continue sharing stories about Alex, his legacy will not be forgotten.

“Just knowing that helps us get through the hurt that we have been experiencing, it helps a lot,” Lee Johnson told us.
 ::snipping3::

Rest in peace Alex.   ::MonkeyAngel::

I hope justice comes swiftly too.  May his family, girlfriend and his friends find peace. 

 ::monkeyscissors::


Grand jury to review charges against man accused of helping to kidnap UK chef
By Jim Warren
jwarren@herald-leader.comJanuary 29, 2014 Updated 7 hours ago

Timothy C. Ballard
   
A Fayette County grand jury will review the case and charges against a Lexington man accused of aiding in the kidnapping of Alex Johnson, whose body was found Friday, a month after he went missing.

Timothy Curtis Ballard, 42, initially was charged with complicity to kidnapping and tampering with evidence. Ballard was in the courtroom for Wednesday's hearing for only a matter of seconds as District Judge T. Bruce Bell sent his case to t

he grand jury.

According to court documents, Ballard allegedly assisted in the unlawful restraint and transport of Johnson and disposed of evidence.

He was an acquaintance of Johnson, 32, who disappeared Dec. 20........................


http://www.kentucky.com/2014/01/29/3058343/man-pleads-not-guilty-to-kidnapping.html

 ::MonkeyGavel::

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/01/30/3060904/suspect-in-uk-chefs-death-wont.html

Suspect in UK chef's death won't fight extradition
January 30, 2014 Updated 10 minutes ago

 ::snipping3::
The Office of the Fayette County sheriff issued a release Thursday saying deputies received notification from Hidalgo County, Texas, that Taylor has signed his waiver of extradition. Authorities have authorized the extradition of Taylor to Fayette County, the release said.

Fayette sheriff deputies will complete extradition arrangements, but "due to officer safety issues, these arrangements will not be released."
 ::snipping3::

 ::justice2nj2:: ::justice2nj2::

That puts a smile on my face.  I was worried.  I read a comment on Alex's facebook page from someone in Pharr, TX and they said not to worry, he will be praying to be sent back to Kentucky after spending a few days in that detention center.  Guess that guy was right.

JUSTICE FOR ALEX

Don't mess with Texas!   ::MonkeyWink:: ::CowboySmiley:: ::MonkeyDance::

Justice for Alex!   ::justice2nj2::

Rest in Peace Alex.





JUSTICE FOR ALEX

My heart and soul goes out to this family who are suffering.  I prayer for them daily.  This is so true for every parent:

https://www.facebook.com/FindAlexJohnson

Annie Dodd:
We worry about our children every day- when we put them on the bus every morning and at the grocery store when they take off like marathon runners and when they get sick. We childproof our homes so our children don't get hurt and double check (sometimes triple check) that the doors are locked every night before we go to bed. Then they get a bit older and we worry if they are being responsible with boyfriends and girlfriends and concerts and driving and all those things you worry about with teenagers. Then your babies grow up and you can breathe a sigh of relief because they no longer seem so fragile. Our biggest worry is that they're happy.

But life is so delicate and this world is so callous. I have been through some excruciating things and seen many excruciating things in my lifetime but nothing could have prepared me for yesterday. A mother mourning her firstborn, a sister dying inside because her brother- her person- is gone, a father kissing and hugging a casket instead of his son, grandparents drowning in tears, aunts, uncles and cousins reeling in pain, a beautiful girlfriend and hundreds and hundreds of friends with tear-stained cheeks whose hearts are forever broken...

I will never, ever, stop worrying about my children. Checking the door locks 2 or 3 times at night will no longer be sufficient... nothing will. Lee and Judy did everything right. It's never enough. It never will be. Our Alex is gone and our world forever changed. Cherish every moment. Every moment your baby screams in the middle of the night because she's teething. Cherish it. Every time your kid spills chocolate milk on your vinyl collection. Cherish it... because you are the luckiest person alive to share and be present in that moment with your little love. Though some of those moments seem unbearable, remember Alex Johnson and be grateful for them. This is his legacy.

http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Man-wanted-in-murder-coming-back-to-Lexington--244888561.html

Man charged in murder coming back to Lexington from Texas
Updated: Tue 1:01 PM, Feb 11, 2014

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - A man wanted in a Lexington murder, who was captured in Texas, is now on his way back to Kentucky.

WKYT spoke with officials at the Hildalgo County, Texas jail Tuesday morning. They confirm that deputies with the Fayette County Sheriff's Office picked up Robert Markham Taylor early this morning. Police in Texas captured Taylor back in January, shortly after Lexington Police charged him with murder.
 ::snipping3::
Taylor is expected to be booked into the Fayette County Detention Center as soon as he is returned to Lexington. It's likely he will go in front of a judge sometime this week to answer to the murder charge.

http://www.wkyt.com/news/headlines/Man-wanted-in-murder-coming-back-to-Lexington--244888561.html

Man charged in murder brought back to Lexington
Updated: Tue 7:33 PM, Feb 11, 2014

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - A man wanted in a Lexington murder, who was captured in Texas, is now back in Lexington.

WKYT spoke with officials at the Hildalgo County, Texas jail Tuesday morning. They confirm that deputies with the Fayette County Sheriff's Office picked up Robert Markham Taylor early this morning. Police in Texas captured Taylor back in January, shortly after Lexington Police charged him with murder.

Police at Blue Grass Airport say Taylor's flight landed in Louisville late Tuesday afternoon. He's now been booked in the Fayette County Detention Center.
 ::snipping3::

Thanks graceland, I just read this on WKYT website.  Only the first of many steps that Alex's family will have to endure.  Their pain will only increase as this plays out in public.  Alex will not be forgotten.




 ::justice2nj2::  ::justice2nj2::

I guess the police had a lot of info to go on into the murder of Alex:

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/02/12/3083309/suspect-beat-uk-chef-to-death.html

 ::snipping3:: ::snipping3::

Police: Suspect in slaying of Alex Johnson beat the UK chef inside a car
By Jim Warren
jwarren@herald-leader.comFebruary 12, 2014 Updated 2 hours ago

 An alleged accomplice told Lexington police that he saw Mark Taylor beat Alex Johnson to death with an unknown object while they were in a car, according to a document filed in Fayette District Court.

Robert Markham "Mark" Taylor, 29, was returned to Lexington from Texas on Tuesday, and is to appear in district court at 1 p.m. Wednesday on multiple charges in Johnson's death.

Timothy Ballard, who also faces charges in the case, told officers that he helped Taylor kidnap Johnson on Dec. 20 by luring Johnson into their vehicle, then "attacking and restraining him once inside the car," a police report says.

Ballard told police that he watched as "Taylor beat Mr. Johnson to death with a foreign object," according to the report from detective Robert Wilson in court documents. "Mr. Ballard then stated that he disposed of the body of Mr. Johnson while Mr. Taylor cleaned the vehicle used in the crime."

Ballard's account came during an interview with police on Jan. 20, according to the complaint........................

Here is more from the same article:

 ::snipping3:: ::snipping3::

The police report filed in court also describes a telephone conversation between Alex Johnson and his girlfriend, Lisa Horobin, on the day Johnson disappeared.

According to the document, Horobin said she heard a knock at the door, heard Johnson open the door, and then heard a voice that "she immediately identified as Mark Taylor, a friend of the victim."

"She heard Mr. Taylor state, 'Come downstairs, I've got a surprise for you,'" the complaint says. "She then advised that Mr. Johnson said, 'Mark is here. I'll call you later.' This is the last time Mr. Johnson was heard from."

More information from the investigation by detectives...

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/02/12/3083309/suspect-beat-uk-chef-to-death.html

Suspect in slaying of Alex Johnson appears in court, waives arraignment on murder charge
By Jim Warren
February 12, 2014 Updated 1 hour ago

Robert Markham "Mark" Taylor pleaded not guilty in Fayette District Court Wednesday to murder and other charges in the beating death of Alex Johnson.

Taylor's attorney, Paul Croley II, waived arraignment and entered the pleas in his client's behalf during a brief hearing. Taylor, 29, was returned to Lexington from Texas on Tuesday.

"There is a whole lot more to this story than what has been reported thus far," Croley told reporters afterward outside the courtroom. "Mark denies these allegations and looks forward to his day in court ... for the truth to come out."
 ::snipping3::
According to the report by Wilson, police determined early in their investigation that Tayor and Ballard were together on the evening of Dec. 20.

Both men indicated that they were at the TrusT Lounge, a bar at 123 West Main in downtown Lexington, that night.

"However, detectives were able to obtain a video from TrusT that showed Mr. Ballard and Mr. Taylor did not arrive until 11:40 p.m. on the 20th," court documents say.

Taylor was arrested Jan. 22 in Pharr, Texas, on a warrant from Lexington. He is charged with murder, kidnapping and tampering with evidence in connection with Johnson's death.

Ballard, 42, was arrested Jan. 21 on charges of complicity to kidnapping and tampering with evidence in the case.

Taylor is due back in court Feb. 25.

I was hoping he would plead guilty but he doesn't have the guts to accept what he did.  I am afraid this will get nasty before it is over with.  No matter what, Alex did not deserve to be beaten to death.

Update:

 ::snipping3::

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/54437

Suspects in Alex Johnson Murder Indicted

A Fayette County grand jury has indicted two suspects in the murder of a Lexington man who went missing late last year.

 ::snipping3:: ::snipping3::

According to court documents, Timothy "Tiny" Ballard, 42, told police he and Taylor lured Johnson into a car, and Taylor beat him to death. Police say Ballard admitted to disposing of the body while Taylor cleaned up the car.

The grand jury indicted Taylor on charges of murder, kidnapping and tampering with physical evidence. Ballard was indicted on charges of kidnapping, tampering with physical evidence and persistent felony offender.

According to the indictment, Ballard has previous convictions of kidnapping, robbery, threatening a U.S. president and theft by unlawful taking in Alabama..........................................




I am glad they are moving on this.  I think the police did a great job in this.

Again, I noticed today Alex's Topix page has been removed.  It was 7 pages of comments and on the last page was a very disturbing comment.  I won't even repeat it here but anyone who replied to it did not deny that it was true.  It was the manner in which they disposed of Alex's body.  That is all I will say for now.  If it is true then it will come out in court.  I think that is where the tampering with physical evidence comes in.  JMO

so true Blue Moon.

(http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo242/Brandi-Monkey/WEATHER/Image174.png)

Update:

 ::snipping3::

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/02/27/3111615/co-defendants-arraigned-in-missing.html

Co-defendants arraigned in missing man Alex Johnson's slaying
By Jim Warren
jwarren@herald-leader.comFebruary 27, 2014 Updated 42 minutes ago

Two men indicted in the beating death of Alex Johnson were arraigned Thursday in Fayette Circuit Court.

Defense attorneys waived formal arraignments for Robert Markham Taylor and Timothy Ballard, and entered not guilty pleas for both.

The co-defendants are to be back in circuit court March 20 for pre-trial hearings.   (BBM)

Taylor, 29, is charged with murder, kidnapping and tampering with physical evidence. Ballard, 42, is charged with kidnapping, tampering with physical evidence, and being a persistent felon.

According to documents previously filed in district court, Ballard told Lexington police that he saw Taylor beat Alex Johnson to death on Dec. 20, the day Johnson disappeared.

Taylor and Ballard are charged in the case under the same indictment. However, they appeared in court separately on Thursday via video from the Fayette County jail.

 ::snipping3:: ::snipping3::

Police have yet to make public any motive in the case





JUSTICE FOR ALEX

 ::justice2nj2::

This is really disturbing to read this and think that Alex did not have to die IF only the police had done their job:

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/03/25/3161487/alex-johnsons-parents-say-two.html?sp=/99/164/961/179/

 ::snipping3::

Alex Johnson's parents say two witnesses reported attack, but police did not respond

By Justin Madden and Bill Estep
jmadden@herald-leader.comMarch 25, 2014 Updated 23 minutes ago


 Two people who witnessed an attack on University of Kentucky employee Alex Johnson the night he was killed in December and called 911, according to an attorney and private investigator hired by Johnson's parents.

That information led his parents to question whether police could have thwarted the crime with a swifter response.

Both witnesses saw a man being hit in the front seat of a car as it traveled on North Hanover Avenue, where Johnson lived, and heard what one described as his "blood curdling" screams.

"Stop, you're killing me," the man yelled, according to an account one witness gave a private investigator for the family.

Both people said they called 911 to report the attack as it was happening, Mark Wohlander, a Lexington attorney who represents Johnson's parents, Lee and Judy Johnson, told the Herald-Leader. No officers responded to talk with the witnesses that evening to get a description of the assailants, the car, the location of the incident and other information, he said.

The family wants to know how dispatchers and police handled the calls from witnesses.

"I think if they'd responded they would have had time to save Alex's life," Lee Johnson told the Herald-Leader Tuesday.

Wohlander said the city has resisted his request under the state open-records law for 911 recordings and transcripts. He has appealed to Attorney General Jack Conway's office.

In the appeal, dated March 22, Wohlander said the 911 center either failed to dispatch officers to the area of the witness calls, or that the "desperate calls" were not considered important enough to dispatch officers.

Lexington police spokeswoman Sherelle Roberts declined to speak about pending cases, saying the "details of what happened on that day will be made public during the court proceedings."

A private investigator working for Johnson's parents, former state police officer Steve O'Daniel, said one witness said the 911 dispatcher who fielded her call said, "Are you kidding me?" almost as if the dispatcher thought the call was a prank.

Police did not interview either of the witnesses for about two weeks, Wohlander said. He declined to release the names of the witnesses to the Herald-Leader.

Wohlander is preparing a wrongful death lawsuit against the two men charged in Alex Johnson's murder...........






It is worth the time to read this article.  I had no idea.   This breaks my heart even more for Alex's parents, sister and girlfriend.  Imagine, this didn't have to happen if police had done their job. 

 ::MonkeyMad:: ::MonkeyMad::   ::MonkeyTears:: ::MonkeyTears::

 ::MonkeyNoNo::  This latest information you've posted is just terrible, Blue Moon. There were witnesses to Alex Johnson's beating resulting in his death, and there wasn't police response.   ::MonkeyNoNo::  It's bad enough the Johnson family lost their son, but knowing there were witnesses who saw and heard him crying out before his death and the police didn't respond will probably haunt them the rest of their years.  I know it would haunt me if it were my son.  Bless those that called in what they saw and heard. 

Yes Muffy, it is very disturbing.  Some of this was on the Lexington, KY Topix.  I posted what was out there concerning this and then Puff it was gone.  I posted some more that appeared a 2nd time and then it was gone.  The 3rd time I didn't post it because it was just too gross and horrible to repost it here.  Either someone in the family or one of the witnesses were posting what really happened.

The article says Alex was beaten in the car.  He was in the passenger seat with that Mark in the back seat beating him.  Then according to this article Mark finished the beating in his basement where Alex died.  I had read on Topix that Mark tried to clean up the blood in his basement using Clorox.  This says he tried to clean up the car.  The car was sold for scrap and was crushed before the police took the case serious.  It took them 2 weeks to even interview the 2 witnesses.

I am just so sad and upset that this could have been prevented. 

This is only the beginning of more to come out.  It is not going to be pretty.  I just pray for Alex's family and girlfriend that they can survive the trail and what it brings.


JUSTICE FOR ALEX...............................................

 ::justice2nj2::

Chilling...poor Alex.   ::MonkeyNoNo:: ::MonkeyTears::

really chilling!

http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Death-penalty-sought-for-Lexington-kidnapping-and-murder-suspect-266753961.html

Death penalty sought for Lexington kidnapping and murder suspect
Posted: Fri 10:49 AM, Jul 11, 2014

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for a man accused in a kidnapping and murder.

Mark Taylor and Timothy Ballard appeared in court Friday morning. Police say the men lured Alex Johnson into their car back in December, beat him to death and dumped his body in the Kentucky River. Taylor is charged with murder and kidnapping. Ballard is charged with kidnapping and evidence tampering. Taylor's new attorney confirmed to us on Friday that the Fayette County Commonwealth's Attorney's office is seeking the death penalty against her client.

During Friday's hearing, prosecutors pushed for a trial date in the case. The defense wanted the next status hearing to be scheduled four months from now. Instead, a judge set it for August 29. It's likely a trial date will be set during that hearing.

Thank you to the judge that had the good sense to schedule a status hearing for August 29, instead of four months from now.  I hope the trial date is set at the status hearing and the justice train gets rolling on down the tracks.  Why prolong the agony of the victim's family and friends?  Hoping there will be justice for Alex.

Thanks for posting this.  I just the article on WKYT and the comment section.  There is more to this then being told.  The "tampering" with evidence will prove to be disturbing if what I read on another site is correct.

I want get into the discussion on the death penalty but if what I have heard is true then really they both deserve it.  JMO

I will continue to send my prayers out to the Johnson's and Alex's sister.  I know they will always have Alex in their hearts and will treasure their memories of him always.

August 29 sounds good.  I am glad the judge made it that date instead of pushing it off in the distance future.  It will 1 year in 4 months.  No need to drag it out.


JUSTICE FOR ALEX  ::justice2nj2:: ::justice2nj2:: ::justice2nj2:: ::justice2nj2:: ::justice2nj2:: ::justice2nj2::

http://www.lex18.com/news/murder-victim-s-family-sues-city-of-lexington/

2 hours 42 minutes ago

Murder Victim's Family Sues City Of Lexington

The family of a man who was murdered and dumped in the Kentucky River, is suing the city of Lexington.

According to the lawsuit that was filed on Monday, Alex Johnson's family said the 911 call takers failed to do their job when witnesses saw Johnson being beaten and called for help.

"We miss him every day, every minute of every day," said Alex's mother, Judy Johnson.

For these parents, the pain of losing their son weighs heavier every moment they're left wondering why no one came to his rescue.

"We were just devastated thinking that he might have been saved if the proper procedure had been followed," said Judy.

"We certainly feel like our son would be alive today if they just followed their policy," added Alex's father, Lee Johnson.

That's what they say in the lawsuit about Lexington's 911 dispatch. The couple filed the suit, less than a year after Alex was taken from his apartment on North Hanover.

In December of 2013 police said Alex was beaten in a car and killed. His body was then stuffed in a barrel and dumped into the Kentucky River.

"On the night that our son was kidnapped and murdered, there were witnesses that called 911 while the event was taking place," said Judy.

The Johnson's said their private detective found the witnesses and copies of the 911 calls. The lawsuit cites two different people reporting the assault. However, it said the call wasn't dispatched to police as a crime "in progress," which could have lead to a faster police response. The suit also claims the call takers failed to stay on the line with the callers until police arrived.

"The 911 call takers thought it was a joke. They didn't do anything," said Lee.

"As far as we know, police were not dispatched to the scene," said Judy.

The family said the lawsuit is not because of money, they instead want to make sure call-takers uphold a safety standard. They said they are asking the city to make sure no one else has to feel their pain.

 ::snipping3::

When it comes to the criminal case of Alex Johnson's death, both Robert Taylor and Timothy Ballard have been arrested. They are set to stand trial next October.

October 2015 trial date set for men accused of killing Alex Johnson: http://www.kentucky.com/2014/10/24/3499518/october-2015-trial-date-set-for.html   ::MonkeyHang::

Thanks or posting this.  I just read it and was checking to see if it was updated.  Dragging out a trial date to 2015 is ridiculous but I guess this is how our justice system works. 

I can't say that I really blame them.  I feel so sorry for the Johnson's.  I know this will weigh heavy on them for the rest of their lives.  I hope their action against Lexington will bring about the changes that could have helped/saved Alex.  My Prayers are always with this family.

Latest update on Alex Johnson.  My continued prayers go out to his family.  Sad article, the suffering continues:

http://www.kentucky.com/2015/01/25/3660432/family-of-alex-johnson-still-grieving.html

 ::snipping3:: ::snipping3::

Family of Alex Johnson slowly accepting but still grieving his death
By Justin Madden
jmadden@herald-leader.comJanuary 25, 2015


 A year later, Alex Johnson's family continues to grieve.

"Alex, we miss you every minute of every day," Judy Johnson wrote on a lantern during a recent birthday celebration for her son, Alex.

More than 50 people gathered with chairs and blankets at a lake near Johnson's hometown in Bowling Green earlier this month to share stories and memories. They lit 34 paper lanterns and wrote a memory in honor of Johnson, who would have turned 34 on Jan. 16. .............................

 ::snipping3::

Update:



 ::monkeyscissors::

Trial of two men accused in Alex Johnson murder case is delayed until June 2016
By Justin Madden
jmadden@herald-leader.comOctober 5, 2015

Alex Johnson

The trial of two men accused of killing Alex Johnson of Lexington and placing his body in a bourbon barrel has been rescheduled until 2016.

According to Fayette Circuit Court documents, Robert Markham Taylor and Timothy Ballard are scheduled to have a jury trial June 1, 2016 on multiple charges stemming from the beating and slaying of Johnson, 30.

Taylor, 29, is charged with murder, kidnapping and tampering with physical evidence. Ballard, 43, is charged with kidnapping, tampering with evidence and being a persistent felon.

The men were acquaintances, police have said...........................


http://www.kentucky.com/2015/10/05/4072980_trial-of-two-men-accused-in-alex.html?rh=1

http://www.wtvq.com/2016/06/06/trial-begins-for-accused-killer-of-uk-chef-alex-johnson/

 ::snipping3::


Trial begins for accused killer of UK chef Alex Johnson
By Mark Groves

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)- Opening statements which included graphic descriptions and demonstrations of how Alex Johnson was killed in 2013 kicked off the trial for a Lexington man accused in the UK chef’s kidnapping and murder.

Robert Markham Taylor, who goes by “Mark” sat with his defense attorneys Monday afternoon in a Lexington courtroom. Before he was able to be represented, starting his trial, prosecutors painted a picture of him as a ruthless murderer, who beat Alex Johnson to death and helped to hide his body.

Prosecutors didn’t hold back from their descriptions and demonstrations of how Johnson was killed in the winter months of 2013. While addressing the jury, prosecutors simulated punches and strangulation.....................

More articles:

http://www.kentucky.com/news/local/crime/article82037122.html  UK chef was savagely beaten to death over marijuana, prosecutor says

http://www.kentucky.com/news/local/crime/article81581312.html  Alex Johnson’s mother allowed to testify at accused killer’s trial

http://www.kentucky.com/news/local/crime/article82702952.html  Key witness says slain UK chef, accused killer were best friends

http://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Day-three-of-Mark-Taylors-murder-trail-underway-in-Lexington-382220541.html   Shop owner testifies in murder trial: Car smelled like bleach, seats removed

Todays Court, medical examiner testified, graphic............

http://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Medical-examiner-testifies-about-evidence-in-Lexington-murder-trial-382682481.html

Medical examiner testifies about evidence in Lexington murder trial

By WKYT News Staff |
Posted: Mon 9:19 AM, Jun 13, 2016  |
Updated: Mon 5:15 PM, Jun 13, 2016

 ::snipping3::

Prosecutors brought the barrel in which Alex Johnson's body was found into the courtroom. The jury was warned that they would have to hear graphic testimony.

Among the evidence shown in the courtroom on Monday were the clothing Alex Johnson was wearing when his body was removed from the barrel. Prosecutors told the jury that one of the shoes he was wearing matched a shoe found in the area Timothy Ballard said he and Mark Taylor killed Johnson.

Dr. Meredith Frame with the Office of the Kentucky State Medical Examiner was the first to take the stand on Monday.

The medical examiner testified that her office was able to recover blood and urine from Johnson's body. Frame says they found marijuana and cocaine in his system. She says they found a lot of tears to Johnson's skin, including more than 20 on his head.

The jury was shown photos of Johnson's body and his injuries. Frame said part of Johnson's skull had been pushed in in several places........................................................................................

Who do you believe in this case?

http://www.wtvq.com/2016/06/14/v/

Taylor testifies he witnessed Ballard beat Alex Johnson to death
by: Fadia Patterson                  Submitted: 06/14/2016-2:57pm

 ::snipping3::

LEXINGTON, Ky.(WTVQ) – Robert ‘Mark’ Taylor took the stand for the first time Tuesday morning in his own defense.

Taylor is on trial and accused of murdering Alex Johnson in December 2013.  On Monday a medical examiner testified that Johnson died of blunt force trauma to the head. His body was later discovered in the Kentucky river in January 2014.

Taylor, 30, testified that Johnson was in an altercation with co-defendant, Tim Ballard when he was beaten to death. He also told the court that he tried to save his friend’s life.

Tuesday, jurors heard from several of Taylor’s friends and family who testified on his behalf.

Taylor talked about his difficult childhood being raised in Florida and Kentucky by a single mother and having a father who suffered with alcoholism.

Taylor also explained that he only got into the marijuana-selling business after his mother became sick with cancer and died. He says he was left with a mortgage, medical bills and his mother’s jewelry business to care for. After dropping out of school and working several jobs to stay afloat, Taylor says he still struggled for ...............................................................

JUSTICE FOR ALEX     ::justice2nj2::   i Hope his family will find some relief in this verdict.  It cannot bring Alex back but Justice was served today.


http://www.wtvq.com/2016/06/15/closing-arguments-end-in-mark-taylor-trial/

BREAKING: Guilty verdict in Mark Taylor trial
By: WTVQ Web Desk 2  Submitted: 06/15/2016-4:10pm

 ::snipping3::

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – A jury has found Mark Taylor guilty on multiple charges after 4 hours of deliberation.

Taylor was found guilty in the kidnapping, beating, death, and discarding of the body of Alex Johnson back in December of 2013.

There will be a short break before sentencing.

Stay tuned to ABC 36 for more.

___

6/15 12:40 p.m.

Mark Taylor’s high-profile murder trial has come to an end as the final witnesses took the stand and both sides ended their closing arguments on Wednesday.  Taylor took the stand in his own defense on Tuesday and claimed that the prosecution’s main witness, Timothy Ballard, was the one who beat Alex Johnson to death back in December 2013.

Mark Taylor’s lead attorney, Sandra Downs, said Taylor had no reason to kill Johnson, especially since Johnson had plans to hand over his marijuana business to him.  Downs said the only thing that Taylor could be guilty of is tampering with evidence.  Downs poked holes in Ballard’s story, saying Ballard was inconsistent in his claim that Taylor killed Alex Johnson and claiming that his story changed from the time he talked with police to get a plea deal, to the time he got on the stand to testify.  Downs closed, telling the jury that if they doubted Ballard’s story, they could not convict Taylor.................................

Thanks Blue Moon!   ::MonkeyKiss::

I just saw the news!   ::MonkeyGavel:: ::justice2nj2:: ::monkeyflag3:: ::MonkeyDance::

https://www.facebook.com/FindAlexJohnson/posts/490254164503214

Justice for Alex Johnson
15 mins ·
Robert Markham Taylor was found guilty of:
Intentional Murder
Kidnapping
Tampering with Physical Evidence
THANK GOD FOR JUSTICE AT LAST!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks TM.  Facebook page was closed during the trial.  I checked this morning and wasn't able to get on it.  I feel so bad for Alex's mother, father and sister.  Justice was served but now they start the long road ahead without him. I can't imagine at all.

https://www.facebook.com/TrueCrimePolice/photos/a.130456272066827/318616883250764/?__tn__=%2CO*F

The Murder Police Podcast
 
Starting Tuesday June 22, 2021. A 4-part mini-series on The Murder Police Podcast.

The 2012 Kidnapping & Murder of Alex Johnson in Lexington Kentucky. Told by Homicide Investigators Rob Wilson and Chris Schoonover.