Published: July 09, 2008 11:32 pm         

Witnesses recall day 23-year-old was shot, killed

A dozen witnesses testified Wednesday in the capital murder trial of Jessie Floyd Johns.

Johns, 57, is accused of first-degree murder, shooting with intent to kill and grand larceny for the role he played in a robbery that turned deadly east of Watonga in November 2005.

Johns faces death, life without parole or life in the shooting death of 23-year-old Amber Matthews.

Wendell Grissom, who was convicted in March of the same crimes and possession of a firearm after felony conviction, was sentenced to die. Grissom also was convicted of shooting Lauren Drue Kopf several times during the Nov. 3, 2005, incident at Kopf’s residence eight miles east and two miles north of Watonga.

Assistant District Attorneys Mike Fields and Barry Retherford questioned 12 witnesses, mostly law enforcement officers, and others who saw or had passing contact with Johns and Grissom on Nov. 3, 2005.

Johns sat taking notes and occasionally whispered to his state-appointed attorneys, Craig Corgan and Virginia Sanders.



‘Johns seemed pretty calm’



Farmer Johnny France said he was traveling Oklahoma 33 to Kingfisher the day of the shootings when he saw two men and a four-wheeler on the side of the highway.

France said Johns had been standing by the four-wheeler with his thumb out and asked him if he would take him to get some gas.

“Grissom looked pretty nervous to me,” France said, when asked about the demeanor of the men. “Johns seemed pretty calm.”

Another farmer, Danny Bond, said he saw the two men at Hill Stop, a cafe, convenience store and gas station in Omega, a rural area in neighboring Kingfisher County, 12 miles east of where the shootings occurred. He said the men came into the cafe and each ordered a beer, paid and went outside.

He said Johns returned to purchase another beer, telling Bond to “have a nice day.”

Bond said he, too, saw the four-wheeler on the side of Oklahoma 33 as he returned to Watonga.

Hill Stop worker Julie Copeland said despite her being friendly, as she is to everyone who comes into the cafe, neither Grissom or Johns spoke much.

She said after Johns bought his second beer he crossed the highway and knelt down in a group of trees, which she said was “very odd.” Copeland said she called the sheriff’s office, and the dispatcher asked her to stay on the line for at least 20 minutes.

During cross examination, Sanders asked Copeland if Johns caused any trouble while in the cafe. Copeland said he did not.



A baby in a pool of blood



Oklahoma Highway Patrol Lt. Anthony Lucero said he, another trooper and other law enforcement officers cleared the house with after hearing a child crying and screaming. He said he entered the toddler’s bedroom to find Matthews and Kopf’s baby in a pool of blood.

He said a toddler in a crib in front of Matthews jumped into his arms after he entered the room. He said the newborn was still, and he thought she may have been dead.

“Her face was covered in blood and blood had matted her eyes shut,” he said of then 5-week-old Gracie, who was not injured. The blood was from Matthews.

Lucero said the children were taken out of the house, and EMT personnel came into the bedroom to work with Matthews.



‘His stories weren’t making any sense’



Kingfisher County Sheriff’s Deputy Barry Reilly said he stopped Johns on Oklahoma 33 as he was heading west toward Hill Stop.

Reilly said his office received a call about a possible shooting eight miles east of Watonga and 30 minutes after that received a call about two suspicious men at Hill Stop.

Reilly said he told Johns there had been a shooting in the area earlier.

“I asked him if he’d shot anyone, and he said he had,” Reilly said. “He said he’d shot his wife 20 years ago.”

Kingfisher County Undersheriff Eldon Dickson said when he spoke with Johns “his stories weren’t making any sense.”

Dickson said Johns was “somewhat nervous” when he spoke with him. Dickson said Johns told him he was hitchhiking to Oklahoma City, but Dickson said unlike other hitchhikers Johns did not have a pack or duffel bag.

Watonga Police Chief Gary Clyden said he left the Kopf residence after the shooting when he learned of a report of two suspicious men outside Hill Stop. Clyden said he passed the four-wheeler on the highway on his way to the cafe.

Clyden said when he questioned Johns about the four-wheeler, Johns said he did not know anything about it. He too testified Johns’ story changed as he was questioned by police.

Clyden said he told Johns he would be detained for questioning and never told him he was under arrest.

During cross examination, Corgan asked Clyden about Johns’ condition during his questioning at the cafe and if Johns was drunk.

“He was very intoxicated. Yes,” Clyden said.

Kopf’s husband, Matt, also testified about the Honda Rubicon 500 four-wheeler that was taken from the home. He said he paid between $7,200 and $7,400 for the four-wheeler, making its theft grand larceny.

Testimony also was heard from a truck driver who said he saw a white pickup with two men inside it at a compressor station near the Kopf residence and an EMT who treated Matthews after the shooting.

The trial resumes at 9 a.m. today.