Body of Woman Missing Since Jan 2010 Found in Morgue

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jun 6, 2011 7:40PM

Carmelita Johnson

Carmelita Johnson went missing Jan. 5, 2010. Six weeks later, police issued a missing persons report for Johnson. Johnson's body washed ashore on a beach on the Southeast side of the city in April 2010. The original detective assigned to the case promised that DNA samples would be collected, but nothing happened for over a year.

The case got warm again with a second detective, who collected DNA samples from Johnson's relatives for testing. By then, Johnson's body was so decomposed that positive identification was useless. Finally, after obtaining her dental records, Jackson was able to be properly identified.

The original detective on the case said that Johnson's relatives didn't give him enough information with which to work. What he was able to gather indicated Johnson was living a pretty hard life. A police source told the Tribune that Johnson's arrest record includes busts for prostitution and cocaine possession.

Johnson's relatives plan on having the body cremated and holding a memorial service. It's a tragic ending to a tragic life.