Christopher Lemar Johnson
Emma Jean Beasley
Source: Family
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Eighty-three-year-old Emma Beasley was killed in a "brutal, heinous crime," police said today, giving new details about her death and the man arrested for it.
Christopher Lemar Johnson, 20, was arrested late Monday for the beating death of the woman in her home in the Dinsmore area Saturday afternoon.
"I did not think it would be this quick but I want to thank each and every one of them for everything they've done and now I expect the State Attorney to work just as tirelessly," said Beasley's son-in-law Danny Griffin.
Lt. Rob Schoonover with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said Johnson lived about a mile from Beasley's home in the 7000 block of Civic Club Drive, but was known to roam the neighborhood.
According to a JSO arrest report, Beasley told her daughter before she died that she had been raped. Police said the suspect also stole from the home a "large amount" of change from a jar, a Harley Davidson T-shirt and some jewelry.
A bloody, white T-shirt was found at the scene that Beasley's daughter said did not belong to anyone in the home.
Schoonover said the investigation got quick help, as several witnesses reported seeing Johnson leaving the home and Johnson left a fingerprint in the home.
He was arrested without incident in the same area shortly after being identified as the suspect.
Schoonover said this sort of crime against a defenseless elderly woman "hits home," and is unusually sad.
He said it appears Johnson didn't know Beasley, who apparently never left the house, was inside at the time he broke in.
Johnson's first court appearance was this morning in front of Judge Roberto Arias.
Arias, citing probable cause, determined that Johnson will be held with no bond until his next appearance, scheduled for Aug. 3.
Johnson's father, Reginald Harden, was in court for today's hearing, and said that while he has sympathy for the victim's family, he believes his son did not do it.
"He wasn't raised like that and he ain't that type of kid," Harden said.
In addition to murder, JSO's inmate information website lists Johnson's charges armed sexual battery with a victim 12 years of age or older, armed robbery with a firearm and burglary to a dwelling.
"I'm hurting. I'm hurting for him. I'm hurting for the other family so I just hope it all works out for the best," said Johnson's grandmother Evelyn Harden.
Family members came home to find Beasley had been left with critical injuries. Paramedics rushed her to Shands Jacksonville where she later died.
The news is particularly startling for Mary Thornton, who lives with her teenage daughter Amber just on the other side of Civic Club Drive.
"I've got a baseball bat that I slept with last night," Thornton said Sunday. "You know, if something like that can happen right across the road, it can happen anywhere."
Thornton said she has been double checking the locks on her doors -- and except for the interview with First Coast News -- staying inside.
"It's sad when you can't even be safe or feel safe in your home," said Thornton.
First Coast News