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Missouri executes convicted killer Johnny Johnson

August 2, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Convicted murderer Johnny Johnson was executed by lethal injection on August 1, 2023 in Bonne Terre (file photo courtesy of the Missouri Department of Corrections)

An eastern Missouri man who beat a six-year-old girl to death with a brick and boulder more than 21 years ago has been executed by lethal injection.

Missouri’s governor rejected a clemency request from 45-year-old Johnny Johnson of Valley Park, who also tried to rape six-year-old Casey Williamson.

Johnson’s lawyers say Johnson was not mentally competent to be executed. The U-S Supreme Court rejected a late defense request for a stay, with three justices dissenting.

Governor Mike Parson says his office has received countless letters in the last few weeks, supporting the execution. The Missouri Supreme Court ordered the execution in April. Former St. Louis County prosecutor Bob McCulloch, who prosecuted Johnson in 2002, attended the execution. Mr. McCulloch tells the Associated Press that the arguments from Johnson’s attorneys were “nonsense” and that Johnson inflicted what he calls unspeakable horrors on Casey Williamson.

Missouri’s governor: Tuesday’s execution of convicted killer Johnson will proceed

August 1, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s governor says a man who was convicted of the gruesome killing of a six-year-old girl in Valley Park 21 years ago will be executed Tuesday evening in Bonne Terre.

Governor Mike Parson has rejected a clemency request from 45-year-old Johnny Johnson, saying the 2002 murder of Casey Williamson “is one of the most horrific murders that has come across my desk.” Governor Parson says Johnson tried to rape Casey in an abandoned glass factory before hitting her in the head with a brick and crushing her skull with a “basketball-sized boulder.”

The Missouri Supreme Court has ordered the execution to take place this evening at the maximum-security prison in Bonne Terre. Barring intervention from the U-S Supreme Court, Johnson will be executed by lethal injection after 6 tonight.

Governor Parson says his office has received countless letters in the last few weeks seeking justice for Casey Williamson. Johnson’s lawyers requested clemency, saying Johnson is not mentally competent to understand why he’s being put to death. Governor Parson disagrees, saying Johnson understands that he’s going to be executed because of his crime.

U.S. Reps. Cori Bush (D-St. Louis) and Emanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas City) urged Governor Parson to grant clemency for Johnson.

(AUDIO): U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) discusses U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on student debt on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”

July 4, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision on Friday that struck down the Biden administration’s plan to forgive student debt for more than 43-million American borrowers. U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (D-St. Louis) is blasting the ruling, calling for expanding the court. She tweeted on Friday that “Student debt cancellation is a racial justice issue — Black and brown people are disproportionately harmed by the student debt crisis. Inaction is not an option.” One of Congresswoman Bush’s colleagues, U-S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth), disagrees with her call to expand the court. Congressman Luetkemeyer tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that the U.S. Supreme Court made the correct decision:

Convicted central Missouri murderer Tisius executed; expresses remorse for 2000 killings

June 7, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

A convicted double killer from mid-Missouri has been executed by lethal injection, about 23 years after he killed two Randolph County jailers in Huntsville.

Michael Tisius was executed at the state’s maximum-security prison in southeast Missouri’s Bonne Terre on Tuesday evening. The Associated Press (AP) reports Tisius breathed hard a few times as the drug was administered, then fell silent. The AP reports Tisius’ spiritual adviser was in the execution chamber with Tisius.

In his final statement, Tisius says he tried hard to become a better man and expressed remorse for the killings. “I am sorry. And not because I am at the end. But because I truly am sorry,” the AP quotes Tisius as writing.

The 42-year-old Tisius was convicted and sentenced to death for shooting jailers Jason Acton and Leon Egley to death in Huntsville in June 2000. Missouri Governor Mike Parson denied a clemency request from Tisius.

“Missouri’s judicial system provided Mr. Tisius with due process and fair proceedings for his brutal murders of two Randolph County jail guards,” the governor says, in a written statement.

Attorneys for Tisius had urged the U.S. Supreme Court to block the execution, alleging that a juror at a 2010 sentencing hearing was illiterate, in violation of state law.

Convicted mid-Missouri murderer Tisius set to be executed tonight

June 6, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Barring intervention from a federal judge or the U.S. Supreme Court, a convicted killer from mid-Missouri will be executed this evening at the state’s maximum-security prison in Bonne Terre.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson has denied a clemency request from 42-year-old Michael Tisius.

“Missouri’s judicial system provided Mr. Tisius with due process and fair proceedings for his brutal murders of two Randolph County jail guards,” the governor says, in a written statement.

Tisius was convicted and sentenced to death for killing Randolph County jailers Jason Acton and Leon Egley in Huntsville in 2000 in an effort to help Tisius’ former cellmate try to escape from jail. The inmate was unable to escape.

State Rep. Peter Merideth (D-St. Louis) had requested clemency for Tisius. Death penalty opponents wanted the governor to commute Tisius’ sentence to life in prison without parole. Governor Parson notes the Missouri Supreme Court scheduled the execution, and that he will follow the law and the court order “to ensure the family members of Mr. Acton and Mr. Egley may finally receive justice for the loved one they lost.”

Tisius will be executed by lethal injection after 6 pm in Bonne Terre, barring court intervention.