Horn Lake, MS: Man charged in girlfriend's death

By CYNTHIA BULLION
Times-Tribune News Staff
Published: Monday, September 21, 2009 12:48 PM CDT
HORN LAKE - A 41-year-old man has been charged with killing his live-in girlfriend in Horn Lake.

Troney Delwon Johnson was arrested on Sunday in connection with the death of Wilma Johnson, who would have turned 55 years old on Wednesday.

The woman was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds on Saturday night after members of Troney Johnson's family reported being unable to reach the couple by telephone all week.

Horn Lake Police Lt. Scott Evans said police conducted a welfare check at the couple's home, in the 6000 block of Conrail Circle, around 3 p.m. Saturday but found nothing suspicious.

"The lights were off and the door was locked," he said, noting that Wilma Johnson's car was not there. "It looked like no one was home."

When family members returned later that day, shortly before 6 p.m., and forced their way inside the home, they found Wilma Johnson's lifeless body in her bedroom.

An autopsy on Wilma Johnson's body was scheduled for Monday morning to determine cause and time of death in the case, though Evans said initial evidence shows the woman was probably killed several days before being found.

Evans added that her death likely was the result of a domestic violence situation.

Troney Johnson currently is in Shelby County Jail with a $25,000 bond amount for domestic assault-bodily harm and two counts of aggravated burglary. He awaits extradition to DeSoto County, where he already has been charged with murder.

Wilma Johnson's murder is the first in Horn Lake yet fifth countywide this year.

Brendan Talley, 18, was shot and killed at his home in the Oak Hollow Apartments complex in Southaven last month. Benjamin Talbert of Hernando was charged with and, earlier this month, indicted for Talley's murder.

In Olive Branch in June, Cornelius Swopshire was charged with murdering Cordarrel Brown. Swopshire, who was indicted earlier this month, allegedly shot the 19-year-old following an argument.

In May, Southaven police charged John Henry Brown with depraved heart murder in connection with a crash along I-55 that killed a 6-year-old girl. Investigators said Brown was driving his tractor-trailer recklessly when he caused the accident. Brown is set to stand trial in December.

The county's first murder of the year was recorded in January. Kimberly Field, 34, was shot and killed during an argument between her mother and her mother's boyfriend, Andrew Stokes, who was later charged in the case.

Cynthia Bullion: 429-6397, cbullion@desototimestribune.com