By Jamie Satterfield
Monday, May 17, 2010
HUNTSVILLE, Tenn. - A Scott County man today admitted killing his ex-wife and hiding her body for three years.
Douglas V. Whisnant last week led authorities to the body of Jean Johnson, who had been missing since February 2007. Today he received his reward for finally breaking his silence on the disappearance of the 66-year-old Johnson - a plea to a reduced charge of second-degree murder and a 15-year prison term.
"I didn't want her laying in a dirt grave somewhere," son Johnny Crabtree said of why Johnson's relatives approved the deal. "We're able now to put her in a casket."
The probe was led by Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Steve Vinsant.
Vinsant was stymied in the case by a lack of a body to go with his suspicions Whisnant killed Johnson. A raid of Whisnant's house in Scott County netted a cache of weapons and a pink suitcase relatives said Johnson had packed just before her disappearance.
Federal authorities slapped Whisnant, who has a long criminal history, with gun charges, and Vinsant eventually won a murder indictment in Scott County Criminal Court.
Whisnant racked up a 25-year prison term in the federal case, which he is now serving.
He was set for trial in the murder case tomorrow but last week struck a deal to reveal that he had buried Johnson in a shallow grave in the Stanley Creek area of Scott County several miles from his home.
Authorities still have not released details about how Johnson died and none were offered at today's hearing.
Under his deal Whisnant will be allowed to serve both his state and federal prison terms at the same time.
More details as they develop online and in Tuesday's News Sentinel.
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