A Minnesota man who claimed he was fulfilling a promise to wife to let her die at home instead of a nursing home, has been slapped with a murder charge after he allegedly threw her a “meth-filled” death party.
FOX News reports that 58-year-old Duane Johnson was charged with third-degree murder in connection with the death of his wife, Debra Lynn Johnson, 69, who passed away in their Brown County home in January. The charges comes after autopsy results determined Debra passed away from methamphetamine overdose.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, authorities were dispatched to Johnson’s home after he called 911 on January 24. Upon arrival, officers noticed Johnson running outside naked. “Death Parde God Hell” was spray painted in red on the front screen door of the house. Johnson then allegedly screamed to police that his wife was dead before running back inside the home.
As the officers entered the home, they found Debra deceased and wrapped in a grey sheet at the top of narrow stairs, with her feet clasped together with a belt. Authorities then found Johnson in a bathtub scrubbing his body. He claimed he was trying to scrub black and white “things” off. Johnson later told police he thought his wife died earlier that morning but waited a while to call 911, to ensure she was truly dead.
Duane Arden Johnson Complaint by on Scribd
When questioned, Johnson reportedly explained that he promised his wife she wouldn’t have to die in a nursing home. Against medical advice, he took her out of a transitional care center and brought her back home, according to police. Elizabeth had suffered two previous heart attacks, and had high blood pressure and uncontrolled diabetes.
Johnson said threw his wife a “death party” that lasted for days, because he couldn’t stand to see her suffering in pain anymore. He reportedly told detectives that they “rocked out” to metal band Quiet Riot and took meth. He also admitted his wife stopped taking her prescribed medications.
Johnson allegedly said he had sex with his wife a few hours before she died, then held her so she couldn’t hurt herself after she started having convulsions. The suspect then admitted, according to police, that he had around 47 guns in his home, and that most of them were stolen. Authorities found two shotguns and four rifles inside the home, along with loads of ammunition.
“I’m an idiot, I’m a moron,” Johnson told police, according to an arrest affidavit. “I don’t need. . .I can’t lie because I’m too stupid to plan ahead and lie.”
Johnson remains behind bars. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
[Feature Photo: Duane Johnson/Police Handout]
