Police seek clues, mystery woman in 1997 murder

| July 30, 2012

No suspects yet in Denise Johnson's death. (KDHPD)

Fifteen years after a house fire turned into a murder case, police are still looking for more clues and the identity of a woman who may have been the last person to see the 33-year-old victim.

On the anniversary of Denise Johnson’s death, Kill Devil Hills police hope that someone will provide information that can lead to a breakthrough in the case.

“No lead is too minor, no detail too small for the investigators to pursue, and if anyone has information about this case, they are urged to come forward,” investigators wrote in a recap of the case.

On July 13, 1997 police responding to a house fire in the 200 block of Norfolk Street found Johnson. They took her outside to try to resuscitate her. But they discovered that she had not succumbed to fire and smoke alone. She’d also been stabbed.

The state medical examiner’s final autopsy report revealed that Johnson died from blood loss and smoke inhalation. The autopsy showed that she had been stabbed in the neck. Additional wounds on her body indicated Johnson had fought for her life, investigators wrote.

“No alcohol or drugs were in Johnson’s system and there was no evidence of a sexual assault,” they wrote.

Collected from the scene were 59 pieces of evidence, police said. The FBI created a criminal profile of the killer. The State Bureau of Investigation helped process the scene.

“One of the questions that remains unanswered in this case is who Denise Johnson was with earlier in the evening on the night she died,” investigators wrote.

Johnson was last seen at a convenience store near Avalon Drive with a woman described as young, blond and between 5 feet, five inches and five feet, 10 inches tall.

“That woman has never come forward or been positively identified,” investigators said.

Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact Capt. G.R. Johnson at (252) 449-5337.

Anonymous tips may also be submitted through Crime Line by using the online form at www.darecommunitycrimeline.org or the anonymous tip line at (252) 473-3111 or (800) 745-2746.

Bookmark and Share

See what people are saying:

  • Beach Bouy says:

    Denise was one of the nicest, sweetest people I ever knew. She as harmless as a kitten, with a smile as big as the sun. I hope whoever caused her death is eventually caught and prosecuted. I hope their guilt haunts them every day and every night for the rest of their miserable life.

    • on July 30, 2012 @ 9:15 pm

  • Heather says:

    Thank you so much for bringing this story to light! Denise was loved by all! It’s been a long time and I’m not sure people remember but there is a $5000 reward for any clues leading to the arrest of her murderer. We raised this money for the Denise Johnson Memorial Fund 15 years ago at the benefit held at Quagmires.

    • on July 30, 2012 @ 11:43 pm

  • hugo says:

    Lets see the profile the FBI created…I’ve heard all the theories and possible suspects. I think that the biggest mystery here is why nobody was charged…it’s a small beach-even more so then. I’m sure somebody knows more than they are sharing.

    • on July 31, 2012 @ 11:15 am

  • Debi says:

    I think about Denise (even more)this time every year.The way her smile would light up a room, But also the way she would step in the middle of a potential bar fight and calm things down before they got ugly! She was the sweetest person you could ever meet AND tough as nails.I do feel sometimes that she (and this case) have been forgotten; I mean, how many cold cases do we have on the Outer Banks? Thanks for getting this back out there… Miss you Denise:(

    • on August 2, 2012 @ 7:09 am

  • Old Norfolk St. resident says:

    I lived across the street at the time, and everyone in our house was sound asleep when it happened and stunned after we awoke and found out.

    The rumor at the time was that a female was mad at Denise over something romantic involving a male.

    A cop on the scene said later that there were multiple stab wounds found on Denises body, consistent with those that could be made by a female attacker.

    There are definitely still people who think they know somebody, or something, and were just freaked out badly over the whole thing.

    Denise was sweet and also a bit flighty–she wrecked into my BF’s car while she was backing out of her own driveway one time! Poor thing. And people did love her.

    FIND THE MURDERER!

    • on August 3, 2012 @ 10:15 am

  • KDHgal says:

    This was such a shock to our community, especially back then. I did not know Denise but I have thougth about her and this unsolved case often over the years. Like others, I am sure that someone knows something that would help catch the killer, and hope after all this time they will come forward to help solve this senseless crime and give justice for the loss of such a lovely and well-liked young woman.

    • on August 3, 2012 @ 3:16 pm

Join the discussion:

You must be registered and logged in to post a comment.