Missing 32 yo Lexington, KY Man Alex Johnson Last Seen Dec. 20, 2013

[Blue Moon]

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.

 

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.

 

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. 

[grace-land]

Rest in Peace, Alex.    

My deepest sympathy to his family and friends.

[grace-land]

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

[grace-land]

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.
 

[Green Eyes]

Rest In Peace Alex

My heart felt sympathy to his family & friends.

[grace-land]

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

 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Johnson's funeral arrangements are pending with J.C. Kirby & Son Funeral Chapel in Bowling Green.

[Blue Moon]

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

 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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..............

[Blue Moon]

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

 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Johnson's funeral arrangements are pending with J.C. Kirby & Son Funeral Chapel in Bowling Green.

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.

[grace-land]

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! 

[grace-land]

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,”
 
“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.”
 

[Blue Moon]

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


 

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.

 

"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.

[grace-land]

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.
 

[Blue Moon]

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

 

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

[Blue Moon]

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.
 

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

[Blue Moon]

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.
 
 
 
 
 
 
           

[grace-land]

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.
 

[Blue Moon]

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.

[Blue Moon]

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.

   
   
                              

[texasmom]

Alex's memorial video...   

http://jckirbyandson.com/vid_01.html

[Blue Moon]

Alex's memorial video...   

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.