Taylor Lee Olson: What Happened to Johnia Berry’s Killer?

In December 2004, 21-year-old Johnia Berry was found stabbed to death outside her Knoxville, Tennessee, apartment. Her roommate, who survived the attack, told police that an unknown intruder had broken in and committed the crime. Despite multiple leads, the case remained unsolved for years until investigators eventually identified Taylor Lee Olson as the killer. The ABC ‘20/20’ episode ‘Blood on the Doors’ explores the chilling details of the murder and how Olson was finally brought to justice.

Taylor Lee Olson’s DNA Was Found at a Murder Scene in Knoxville

Taylor Lee Olson was born on April 3, 1985, to parents Jody and Carrie Olson. He spent his early childhood in Eugene, Oregon, alongside his sisters, Jessi and Jennifer Olson. The family later relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee, where Olson eventually settled and made his home. He graduated from Bearden High School and maintained a close relationship with his family. In his teenage years, he was often seen riding dirt bikes around the neighborhood and had a wide circle of friends. In December 2006, he also welcomed his son, Conner Lee Olson, and was a favorite uncle for his nephews and nieces. As he matured, Olson began exploring his creative side and frequently wrote poetry. However, his life eventually took a troubling turn.

Olson began getting involved in petty crimes, and over time, his behavior allegedly became violent. By 2007, he had accumulated several charges and even faced a conviction. On July 27 of that year, he was arrested for violating probation. During his time in custody, he voluntarily provided a DNA sample to authorities. That decision would prove crucial as his DNA was later matched to evidence found at a 2004 murder scene. The match was made with blood found on a bent knife. It was believed to be the murder weapon used in the killing of 21-year-old Johnia Berry, a graduate student at the University of Tennessee who was found stabbed to death in her Knoxville apartment on December 6, 2004.

Taylor Lee Olson Passed Away Before His Trial Commenced

In the investigation into Johnia Berry’s murder, police followed numerous leads. One of the first people they questioned was her roommate, Jason Aymami, who had also been injured during the attack. He told authorities that he managed to escape and call 911. They also investigated Johnia’s fiancé at the time, Jason White, but no evidence linked him to the crime. A composite sketch of the suspected killer was released and circulated widely. It wasn’t until mid-2007 that a breakthrough came. A man driving past a billboard with the sketch contacted the police and identified Taylor Lee Olson as a possible match. Once Olson’s DNA was found to match the sample on the bent knife recovered from the crime scene, police confirmed the link.

The fact that Olson lived just a few miles from Berry’s apartment at the time of the murder further strengthened the case against him. On September 24, 2007, he was officially charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Berry. Though he initially maintained his innocence and waived his right to a trial, later reports suggested that Olson eventually confessed to the crime. He allegedly told investigators that he and a friend had set out to steal a car, but after the friend left, he continued searching for keys using a sensor device and ended up entering an apartment, which led to the deadly encounter. Before the case could go to trial, Olson took his own life. On March 24, 2008, he was found hanging from the ceiling of his jail cell and was pronounced dead. His family later held a funeral service for him at the Smith Trinity Chapel in Knoxville, Tennessee.