Naman Shrestha
Shawn Christopher Johnson was an established lighting director based in Atlanta, Georgia. So, when the 34-year-old man passed away during his week-long business trip to New Orleans, Louisiana, it was a huge loss not just for his family but also for the entire community. In the episode titled ‘Blood on Bourbon Street’ of Investigation Discovery’s ‘Fatal Destination,’ the focus is on the unexpected and horrific murder of Shawn, whose night of celebrations turned deadly. As the detectives investigated the case, they learned that four individuals could be responsible for the crime.
Shawn Christopher Johnson Was a Doting Father of One
The beloved son of Ron Johnson, Donald, and Nancy Williams, Shawn Christopher Johnson was born on December 18, 1968. He was raised in a warm household alongside his loving brother, Drew Williams, as well as his sisters, Camile Williams-Law and Rhonda Willingham. He was a passionate and vibrant soul who was deeply adored by his friends and family. Right from his early days, he probably had a clear vision of what he wanted to do with his life. He accordingly obtained his education and worked really hard to build a great life for himself in Atlanta, Georgia. While not much is known about whether or not he was married or had a partner, Shawn was a proud father of a son, Christopher Johnson.
On the professional front, Shawn was a lighting director with technical expertise in relation to lighting equipment, creative vision, smooth communication skills, and a great understanding of color theory. He was a reputed professional in the industry due to his experience and work ethic. In July 2003, when Shawn was handed a work prospect that would enable him to check off one of the spots from his travel bucket list — New Orleans — he grabbed the chance with both hands. While he was primarily there to attend a Microsoft convention, he was excited to spend the time in The Big Easy in southeastern Louisiana.
Shawn Christopher Johnson Was Found Dead in His Hotel Room
After wrapping up work, Shawn Johnson decided to end his week-long trip with a bang. To savor the dynamic Creole and Cajun cuisine and explore the rich music and cultural avenues, he headed out to the neighborhood of the French Quarter. On July 19, he specifically visited the iconic two-story gothic-themed bar called The Dungeon at 738 Toulouse Street to let his hair down and sip on some amazing cocktails. Tucked away in a dimly lit alley, the late-night bar is known for its dark and grungy aesthetic, eerie decor, and a 70s vibe that’s accentuated with hard rock and metal music. What was supposed to be one of the highlights of his NOLA trip tragically turned out to be his last night alive, as he was found dead in his hotel room, reportedly at the Courtyard by Marriott, the next morning.
When a room service executive repeatedly knocked on his door to no avail, she somehow managed to bolt the door open around 12:30 pm, only to find the 34-year-old dead in the hot tub. The hotel staff immediately called the New Orleans Police. According to the medical examiner, Shawn sustained extreme blunt head injuries, which ultimately caused him to die by drowning in the hot tub. Due to the presence of certain unnerving elements, such as torn pages of a Bible and a rag doll at the crime scene, establishing a motive for Shawn’s murder became rather challenging. Initially, the authorities declared robbery to be the primary motive, but also oscillated between it being a “ritualistic killing” or an act of random violence. Soon, a full-fledged investigation into the murder of the father of one was launched.
An After-Party With Strangers Turned Deadly For Shawn Christopher Johnson
As the investigation was launched, the detectives traced Shawn Christopher Johnson’s movement in the hours leading up to his demise in his hotel room. Thanks to the CCTV footage of the Marriott Courtyard Hotel, they spotted him entering the hotel with four other individuals around 5 am on July 19, 2003. The four individuals were two men and two women, all of whom were dressed up in gothic clothing. Shawn had met them at a gothic-themed bar in the French Quarter called The Dungeon a few hours earlier. Furthermore, a couple of witnesses also claimed that they heard the group of people plotting to rob the lighting director from Atlanta, Georgia.
Reportedly, Shawn invited his four new friends to his hotel room for a champagne and hot tub party. The detectives started searching for the four suspects, and believed that they had fled the city after the murder. Soon enough, they managed to track down Karla Nicole Frye and arrest her on July 26, 2003, in connection with the killing of Shawn. As per the authorities, she appeared to be scared of the other suspects as she claimed to know nothing about them or the murder. A few days later, another suspect named Benjamin Anthony was arrested on August 1, 2003.
Meanwhile, Catt, who was another suspect in the case, decided to cooperate with the police in return for not being charged. On August 3, the investigators received multiple tips about the whereabouts of the final suspect, Kriss Mitchell Lane. Thus, following up on the tips, the authorities located him in Bradenton, Florida, where he had been bragging about killing someone in New Orleans. On the same day, he was arrested and charged with Shawn’s murder. As per the police, Kriss was the one who struck Shawn with a champagne bottle before drowning him by holding his head under water.
Kriss Mitchell Lane Died While Incarcerated in a Louisiana Prison
While Benjamin Anthony pleaded guilty to being an accessory and received a four-year imprisonment sentence, Karla Frye decided to take her chances in court. During her trial, she testified that she was afraid of Kriss and didn’t know that he would rob and kill Shawn that night. Ultimately, she was found guilty of negligent homicide and sentenced to five years in prison. On May 12, 2006, Kriss Mitchell Lane pleaded guilty to manslaughter and robbery in criminal court. Avoiding a capital murder trial, he received a 45-year imprisonment sentence for his involvement in the gruesome murder. However, while serving his sentence in the Louisiana State Penitentiary, he took his own life on March 1, 2013.
Read More: Leilani Beauchamp Murder: Where is Jessica Quintanilla Now?
