Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
July 28, 2002
VALLEY PARK, Mo. -- A transient was accused Saturday of abducting, trying to rape and ultimately slaying a 6-year-old girl taken from her father's home.
St. Louis County warrants charge Johnny A. Johnson, 24, with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and attempted forcible rape in Friday's killing of Cassandra "Casey" Williamson, who vanished from the home where Johnson had spent the night as a guest.
Cassandra's body was found blocks away at an abandoned glass factory where police say Johnson sometimes slept. Johnson told police the girl's location, investigators said.
Johnson was held without bail Saturday in the St. Louis County Jail in Clayton. It was not immediately clear when he would make his first court appearance.
An autopsy Saturday showed Cassandra died after being hit by a blunt object, St. Louis County police Maj. Jerry Lee said, but he refused to give details.
Police Chief Ron Battelle told NBC's Today show that Johnson confessed to the slaying. He declined to comment on a motive.