[SC] Janie Johnson's police leiutenant husband "resigned" (for his dv offenses) before he killed them both

I got side-tracked trying to find anything on Janie.
I couldn't find much - except that she was afraid, cold, and then murdered. So for Janie - I'm putting you HERE so you can be SOMEwhere that others can see.

2000 & 2002

[2000] A veteran Westminster police officer who was arrested on two charges of criminal domestic violence resigned prior to his Friday hearing... Ms. Johnson told deputies she was struck in the nose and the gun was pointed at her and Mr. Delfino, according to the report. Both victims said Mr. Johnson threatened to kill them. Officers also noted Ms. Johnson was outside in the cold with no jacket or shoes and was visibly frightened... Ms. Johnson and her son Ronnie Delfino, then 32, who lived with the Johnsons, both said Mr. Johnson pointed a 9-mm handgun at them and threatened to kill them... court records indicate that Mr. Johnson only received a one-year suspended sentence and 100 hours of community service - for the resisting arrest charge.

[2002] ...an autopsy showed Ms. Johnson had been shot four times... Mr. Johnson died from a single gunshot wound... "She was a wonderful person, wonderful to everyone"...

FULL ARTICLES:

Hearing scheduled for suspended policemen
Anderson Independent-Mail (SC)
April 20, 2000
David Williams

WESTMINSTER - A veteran Westminster police officer who was arrested last week on two charges of criminal domestic violence has been placed on administrative leave without pay. A hearing also has been scheduled for April 28 to determine a final decision concerning his employment with the city.

Lt. Walter Johnson was arrested April 13 by Oconee County sheriff's deputies responding to a call from his 280 Olbon Road residence. According to the incident report, deputies found Mr. Johnson's wife, Janie, and his stepson, Ronnie Delfino outside in the cold. Lt. Johnson was inside with a 9 mm handgun, the report said.

According to Police Chief Bill Strachan, who met with Lt. Johnson on Wednesday morning, the hearing will be attended by himself, the lieutenant and "any legal representation Officer Johnson wishes to attend."

If a decision is made to terminate the officer, the recommendation would be passed on to the City Council.

"Per our personnel policy, if a department head terminates an individual, it is referred to the City Council," Chief Strachan said. "It's usually a technicality."

Lt. Johnson, 55, who has been with the police department since August of 1989, was released Saturday from the Oconee County jail on bonds totaling $21,000.

According to the report, Ms. Johnson, 50, told deputies at the time of the arrest that she had been struck in the nose and that the gun was pointed at her and Mr. Delfino, 32. Both of the victims said Mr. Johnson threatened to kill them.

Officers also noted Ms. Johnson was standing outside in the cold with no jacket or shoes on and was visibly frightened. The incident was listed as alcohol-related.

The report says Mr. Johnson had to be transported to Oconee Memorial Hospital where he was treated for a cut on his forehead before being released to deputies who took him to jail. However, the cut to Mr. Johnson occurred when he fell on the porch, according to a witness' statement.


Police officer resigns before hearing
Anderson Independent-Mail (SC)
April 29, 2000
David Williams

WESTMINSTER - A veteran Westminster police officer who was arrested on two charges of criminal domestic violence resigned prior to his Friday hearing with Police Chief Bill Strachan.

Lt. Walter Johnson, 55, was on administrative leave without pay after being arrested April 13 by Oconee County Sheriff deputies at his 280 Olbon Road residence.

According to an incident report, the deputies found Mr. Johnson's 50-year-old wife, Janie, 50, and Mr. Johnson's step-son Ronnie Delfino, 32, outside with Lt. Johnson inside holding a 9 mm handgun.

"He tendered a letter of resignation prior to the administrative hearing," Chief Strachan said Friday.

Lt. Johnson had been with the police department since August of 1989. He was released April 15 from the Oconee County jail on bonds totaling $21,000 - $10,000 for each count of criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature and one charge of resisting arrest which has a bond of $1,000.

A court date in the case has not been set yet. The 10th Judicial Circuit Court is scheduled to start its May docket on May 22, and the June term starts June 19.

Ms. Johnson told deputies she was struck in the nose and the gun was pointed at her and Mr. Delfino, according to the report. Both victims said Mr. Johnson threatened to kill them. Officers also noted Ms. Johnson was outside in the cold with no jacket or shoes and was visibly frightened.

The incident was listed as alcohol related.


DV Accused Westminster police officer kills wife, self in front yard
By David Williams
Anderson Independent-Mail
10/5/2002

WESTMINSTER — A former Westminster police officer who resigned in 2000 after being charged with criminal domestic violence shot and his wife to death and then killed himself on Thursday.

At 7:25 p.m. Thursday, Oconee County sheriff's deputies were sent to 280 Olbon Road, where they found Janie Lillian Mae Johnson, 53, lying in the front yard. Her husband, Walter Lewis Johnson, 58, was also found in the front yard.

The incident happened one day after the Violence Policy Center announced that South Carolina is third in the nation in the rate of women slain by men.

"Ms. Johnson died at the residence," Oconee County Coroner Karl Addis said. "Both were found outside the home near the front porch."

The house is the last one on a dead-end road just off Dairy Farm Road and S.C. 59 north of Fair Play.

Mr. Addis said an autopsy showed Ms. Johnson had been shot four times: once in the head, twice in the upper chest and once in the back. He said that "any of the shots would have been fatal."

Mr. Addis said Mr. Johnson died from a single gunshot wound to the head and that his death was a suicide.

For Ms. Johnson's friends and co-workers, Friday was an extremely emotional day.

"She was a fabulous woman with a fabulous heart," one co-worker at Classy Cuts and Curls in Seneca said. "There's got to be a reason, and hopefully other women will not continue to live in that type of situation."

Debbie Abu-Eieideh, owner of the hair styling business, said Ms. Johnson worked there for more than eight years.

"She was a wonderful person, wonderful to everyone," he said. "She loved her customers."

Mr. Johnson was working as a security guard in Anderson.

In April 2000, Mr. Johnson, resigned as a Westminster Police Department Lieutenant after being charged with two counts of criminal domestic violence and resisting arrest. He had been with the department since August 1989.

Oconee County Sheriff's deputies who arrested Mr. Johnson in 2000 said they found Ms. Johnson outside in the cold with no jacket or shoes and visibly frightened. Ms. Johnson and her son Ronnie Delfino, then 32, who lived with the Johnsons, both said Mr. Johnson pointed a 9-mm handgun at them and threatened to kill them.

However, court records indicate that Mr. Johnson only received a one-year suspended sentence and 100 hours of community service for the resisting arrest charge.

According to the State law Enforcement Division, 30 percent of the 881 homicides in South Carolina between 1998 and 2000 were domestic violence cases. The national figures for 2000 and 2001 was 13 percent, 17 percent less than South Carolina's, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

"Anyone out there that is a victim of domestic violence, please seek help from law enforcement or any other means," Mr. Addis said.

There have been five homicides and the one related suicide this year. There were no homicides in Oconee County in 2001.