Missing Woman's Body Found In Hollywood Hills

NBC11.com ^ | 3/3/03 | AP

[MVV]

Missing Woman's Body Found In Hollywood Hills

Kristine Johnson Disappeared Feb. 15

POSTED: 5:35 p.m. PST March 3, 2003

UPDATED: 7:54 p.m. PST March 3, 2003

LOS ANGELES -- Santa Monica police have confirmed that a body found in the Hollywood Hills Monday afternoon is that of 22-year-old Kristine Johnson.

FeedRoom
	Body Of Bay Area Woman Found

Santa Monica Police Chief James Butts says a body marking enabled investigators to positively identify the body found at the bottom of a ravine as that of Johnson.

Los Angeles police received a call shortly after 1 p.m. on Monday that a body was discovered on Skyline Drive.

Johnson's mother is from Los Gatos.

About 100 volunteers searched the Hollywood Hills and Topanga Canyon over the weekend, but found no sign of Johnson.

She disappeared Feb. 15 after telling her roommate she was going to Beverly Hills to audition for a photographer she met while shopping at the Century City Mall. The audition was purportedly connected to a movie production.

The Santa Monica police chief says there is someone in custody on "another charge" who is of interest to them in the disappearance and what may be the kidnap-murder of Kristine Johnson.

Police Chief James Butts would not identify the person.

[MVV]

Sick, sick, sick & stupid, stupid, stupid! Did a search and this article or any others didn't come up, so my apologies if this was posted before.

FReegards!

[MVV]

Beautiful young lady, how foolish she was, like so many others out there!

[rintense]

A very tragic story. This girl had West Michigan ties (Saugatuck), so the entire West Michigan area has been very aware of her story. My prayers go out to her family.

[reformed_dem]

....audition for a photographer she met while shopping at the Century City Mall.

How many young women have been kidnapped and killed by falling for this? This happens time and again and they don't learn. It's a horrible, horrible thing and I feel for her family, but is the desire for fame such that it wipes out all common sense? Weren't the warning bells going crazy?

[ambrose]

Especially in this day and age. How about first getting a name of the "movie production company" and then looking it up on the 'net to see if it even exists?

[Arkinsaw]

Beautiful young lady, how foolish she was, like so many others out there!

I had a girlfriend who let this really shabbily dressed Mexican guy convice her that he was a lawyer and wanted to give her a job for a large salary. She was sure he was legit because he was driving a gold luxury convertible.

He turned out to have a criminal lawyer's business card because he was a criminal lawyer's client. He had the Mercedes because he had scammed somebody into letting him take it to be 'detailed'.

He invited himself over to her apartment to discuss "business". My roommate and I were there which was quite unexpected for him. We asked him some questions. He left really quickly. The girlfriend was pretty mad for us spoiling her job.

We called the lawyers office the next day and found out the real scoop.

[waterstraat]

. This girl had West Michigan ties (Saugatuck),

What are her west Michigan ties?

[Illbay]

...but is the desire for fame such that it wipes out all common sense?

The moment I heard this story I thought "here's another tragedy to be laid at the feet of Hollywood Babylon."

It is amazing how many kids of this generation are obsessed with the idea of Hollywood fame. I have this talk with my 13-year-old daughter frequently. She is convinced that being a "movie star" would just be THE life.

[jdontom]

so my apologies if this was posted before.

Thanks for posting this, I was pinged over to the Laci Peterson thread about this discovery, alot of freepers know about this case, but are not connected to the Peterson disapearance. Such a senceless murder of a very attractive and vibrant young lady. Now the attention will be directed to the dirt thats in custody.....Hope they got their man....

[CheneyChick]

So sad, I really hope a lot of young gals are paying attention.

[jdontom]

What are her west Michigan ties?

The body was identified as that of Saugatuck (Mich.) High School graduate Kristine Louise Johnson, 22, of suburban Santa Monica.

Searched several articles and found only this connection to Michigan.

[Aaron0617]

Beautiful young lady, how foolish she was, like so many others out there!

Like this young lady?

Local FBI on Alert for Michigan Kidnapping Victim

Mar. 3, 2003 (Salt Lake City, KSL News) -- The local FBI is on alert for a kidnapping victim and suspect that may be traveling through Utah Monday.

An "Amber Alert" was issued Saturday in Michigan for fourteen year old Lindsey Ryan. 57 year old Terry Drake is the suspect in the case.

Lindsey Ryan was last seen at her Michigan home. It's believed she was abducted on Saturday by 57 year old Terry Drake. Drake is a convicted murderer who was paroled in 1994 for the crime. It's believed he is armed and dangerous. Authorities say the two were affiliated through their church and had recently been sending e-mail to each other. The girl reportedly took four thousand dollars cash and six guns before leaving with the man.

Authorities say the two were last seen in a 1995 Dodge Dakota pickup truck with Indiana license plate 460211A.

The abductor may or may not have glasses on and he has multiple tattoos on his neck and forearms. He also uses the alias Alfonzo Devette. The FBI warns he may be armed and dangerous. He was paroled in 1994 on a 1970 murder conviction.

The two were spotted in Evanston, Wyoming about three this mornning heading West. The Summit County Sheriff confirms someone reported seeing the two about nine this morning around Kimball Junction.

It's not known if the girl left with the man voluntarily, or if she was pressured or forced into it. In any case, authorities are concerned for her safety.

"George Dougherty/FBI: WHEN YOU'RE MIXING PEOPLE ON THE RUN WITH FIREARMS AND THAT ARE DESPERATE, THAT HAVE DESPERATE MEASURES THEY'LL DO THINGS THAT NORMAL PEOPLE WON'T. WE'RE CONCERNED NUMBER ONE WITH THE SAFETY OF LINDSEY, AND WITH THE SAFETY OF OTHER PEOPLE."

It's likely they have passed through Utah and are in another western state by now, but there is no way to no for sure at this point. If you have any information call the FBI or the police department.

Link to article

[US_MilitaryRules]

So sad. I hope they hang the Ba$!*rd. Sicko is like the one who killed that Raiders cheerleader a few years back. Photo op was that MO also. My condolences to the family.

[reformed_dem]

Same with my 11 y.o. She thinks it would be fun and exciting. I explain to her over and over that the chance of actually becoming a "star" are very remote, and that the fame and celebrity take away any chance for normalcy. But of course, what do I know, I'm just her mother.

[Aaron0617]

I hope they hang the Ba$!*rd. Sicko is like the one who killed that Raiders cheerleader a few years back.

That would be talented photographer Charles Rathbun who raped and murdered Linda Sobek a model and former Los Angeles Raiders cheerleader.

[Joy Angela]

Fame and Fortune...but at what price?

The poses and the clothing young women wear in most ads are geared toward using sexuality to sell products!

SEX SELLS

It's good to remind our daughters that being pretty is a gift from God, and that they shouldn't allow the gift to used by the Devil.

Sometimes the ones who are gifted the most
are also tempted the most.

[Cinnamon Girl]

Disgusting and sad. And I also feel sorry for whoever found her. I always feel for those people, who must be seriously traumatized by such a horrific discovery.

[cgk]

I'm surprised there haven't been more people noting the similarities between this horrific case & the one a few years back involving the woman from Redondo or around there (So CA, south bay) who also went up into the mountains (Angeles Crest) with a "photographer". Something about a car commercial or car photo shoot. She was also killed using this pick-up. They got that monster. What is tragic is that women are still falling for this.

[Scupoli]

Poor girl. Many young people have to learn their lessons the hard way, but most of us managed to live to talk about the stupid things we did. She won't.

[ladyinred]

Agree, but the young seem to think they are immortal, and it happens to the other guy. So sad, and so horrific. I hope we blame the murderer more than the victim however.