Recent tip in 1978 slaying brings hope of resolution
Published 9:41 pm Saturday, January 17, 2009
EVERETT — Dale Johnson needed help.
Someone was in his south Everett house. He hid from the intruder, dialed 911 and, in a frantic whisper, asked for help.
Investigators believe Johnson, 23, was shot to death while he was on the phone with an emergency dispatcher.
No one has ever been arrested for the 1978 slaying.
Snohomish County sheriff’s detectives haven’t given up finding the killer.
Johnson’s death is part of the state’s first deck of cold-case playing cards. Sheriff’s detectives created the decks in hopes of soliciting new leads for unsolved homicides and missing-persons cases. More than 3,000 decks of cards have been handed out in jails and prisons across the state, and inmates are offered a reward for valuable tips.
Johnson is featured on the five of spades.
There is speculation and there are rumors about his death. And there are so many unanswered questions.
Johnson’s family just wants to know the truth.
“There’s been a considerable cloud over the whole thing,” Vernon Johnson said of his son’s death. “We have a tight-knit family. It would mean a lot to have it resolved. I would like to see the community to get the benefit of the truth, too.”
Detectives received a tip last summer indicating that the person who killed Johnson died in some type of accident within a few years of the shooting, sheriff’s detective Jim Scharf said.
Investigators need to verify the tip and are asking anyone with information to step forward. If the information is true, the tipster wouldn’t have to worry about testifying in court, Scharf said.
Leanne Johnson was 16 when her brother was killed. She misses him.
“He always tried to be tough but he was a big marshmallow inside,” Leanne Johnson said.
She is thankful her big brother hasn’t been forgotten and someone is trying to help them after more than 30 years.
“After such a long time you become afraid to hope because you don’t want to be disappointed,” Leanne Johnson said. “I can’t help but hope. It’s something there all the time. It’s part of your life.”
Reporter Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463 or hefley@heraldnet.com.
About this series
Snohomish County sheriff’s detectives created the state’s first deck of cold-case playing cards. Each Sunday for a year, The Herald is publishing a story about a case featured on one of the cards. To see the 52 cards, go to cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet.
Anyone with information about unsolved homicides or missing persons cases is asked to call 800-222-TIPS (8477). A reward of up to $1,000 is offered.
Tips also can be left on the sheriff’s tip line at 425-388-3845. Callers may remain anonymous, although tips have been more successful when callers speak with detectives, police said.
