Slaying Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

Vincent George Brown pleaded not guilty Tuesday to kidnapping and killing his ex-girlfriend Jennifer Johnson in November.

Brown, 39, entered his plea to kidnapping and first-degree murder charges before Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Robert Foster, who appointed a public defender to represent Brown and set a status conference for March 19.

Brown, who was indicted in January, is accused of strangling Johnson, the mother of his 2-year-old daughter, and dumping her body in an abandoned house in Lakeland.

Assistant State Attorney Jalal Harb told the judge his office will decide whether to seek the death penalty for Brown in the next couple of weeks. Court rules gives prosecutors 45 days from the time Brown was indicted to make the decision.

Relatives of Johnson, 31, reported her missing Nov. 15 when she didn't show up for her daughter's birthday party. Johnson was seen arguing with Brown the night before at a Tampa nightclub and was at his parents' house Nov. 15, police said. Witnesses also told police they saw Brown driving Johnson's car later on Nov. 15.

Plant City police received a 911 call Johnson placed from the trunk of a car. A deputy was dispatched to the area the cell towers indicated the call originated from but couldn't find her.

Johnson's family huddled with Harb in his office after the hearing. They said the prosecutor updated them on the progress of the case and that they lobbied for the death penalty.

"I don't think he should have taken her life like he did," said Johnson's mother, Alma Dorsey, who wore a T-shirt with her daughter's picture and the words "Gone But Not Forgotten."

"He knows what he did."

The family said they think others were involved in Johnson's disappearance and urged anyone with information to come forward to police.

"All we are asking for is to give us some peace of mind," said Tisha Collins, Johnson's cousin. "We are still hurting."

Brown is serving 13 months in state prison on drug charges after a judge revoked his probation in November.