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Family Grieves After Tampa Woman's Body Is Identified

News Channel 8 photo by JIM WEBB

Betty Dorsey, Jennifer Johnson's aunt, holds pictures of Johnson, who was found dead Tuesday.

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By VALERIE KALFRIN

vkalfrin@tampatrib.com

Published: November 20, 2008

TAMPA - Two-year-old Je'Neiyce Johnson pedaled a three-wheeler on the sidewalk outside her apartment Wednesday, waving at relatives.

Her name, tattooed on her mother's forearm, had helped police identify the body of the woman, found dead in a vacant house in Lakeland on Tuesday, her family said.

Police in Tampa and Lakeland are investigating what happened to Jennifer Denise Johnson, 31, after she was seen 11 p.m. Friday at the Apollo Club, 5110 N. 40th St., arguing with Vincent Brown Jr.

Brown, 38, is her ex-boyfriend and the father of her daughter. He surrendered Sunday at Orient Road Jail on a warrant for violating his probation on a cocaine-possession charge and was being held Wednesday without bail. A prosecutor previously called Brown a suspect in Johnson's disappearance, but he has not been charged in connection with her death.

Relatives had reported Johnson missing Saturday evening after she did not appear in time for her daughter's birthday party. The family scrapped the party.

On Tuesday, residents living near 1810 W. Elliott St. in Lakeland found Johnson's body after noticing an open back door at the house, which is in foreclosure, Gillen said.

Lakeland police spokesman Jack Gillen declined to say how Johnson died.

Johnson's mother, Alma Dorsey, said detectives said Johnson had called 911 from the trunk of a car, saying, "Help me."

Gillen said Wednesday that he had no knowledge of such a call.

"I'm glad they found her," Dorsey said Wednesday. "I was hoping and praying my daughter was still alive, but it came another way."

"She didn't deserve this," said aunt Betty Dorsey, 34, clutching pictures of Johnson to her chest and weeping. "I just want to know why. ... Why, Lord? Why?"

Public records show that Brown is a convicted felon who was released from a state prison in 2003 after serving 18 months on battery charges.

News Channel 8 reporter Josh Thomas contributed to this report. Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800.

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