An Ohio jury delivered a significant verdict on Monday, finding Jacob Bumpass, a 35-year-old man from Kentucky, guilty in connection with the mysterious disappearance of Paige Johnson, a 17-year-old single mother. Bumpass was convicted of abusing a corpse and tampering with evidence related to Johnson’s death, which occurred in September 2010.
Clermont County Assistant Prosecutor, Clay Tharp, expressed satisfaction with the jury’s decision, stating, “We are pleased to have been able to bring some semblance of justice to the Johnson family.” The state successfully presented evidence indicating that Bumpass was the last person to see Paige Johnson alive.
The case dates back to September 23, 2010, when Johnson was reported missing to the Covington Police Department in Kentucky. Prosecutors alleged that Johnson and Bumpass were friends, and an argument at Bumpass’ residence led to her death. Bumpass then attempted to conceal her death to evade scrutiny, as reported by WLWT5.
Initially, Bumpass claimed he dropped Johnson off at an intersection in Covington after her visit to his home that day. However, it was not until a decade later, in a wooded area of Williamsburg Township, Ohio, approximately 33 miles from the supposed drop-off point, that an individual searching for deer sheds discovered a human skull.
The tweet below verifies the news:
Cellphone data ties Kentucky man to teen mom’s disappearance, death 13 years ago https://t.co/H41MGj7Z6q
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 26, 2023
Over the course of three days, authorities found additional remains, which were later identified by a forensic dental consultant as belonging to Paige Johnson. Due to the limited state of her remains, the exact cause of Johnson’s death remains unclear.
Donna Johnson, Paige’s mother, expressed relief at the verdict, saying, “It has been a long wait, and that part has been very hard. So… the joy and the happiness with being able to bring her home finally and give her what she deserves after having to wait all this time is a feeling I can’t even describe.” According to WLWT5, she felt that justice was served as her daughter could finally receive the dignity she deserved.
Prosecutor Mark Tekulve expressed hope that the verdict would bring justice to Paige Johnson’s friends and family. However, he acknowledged that no amount of prison time could fully account for the pain and suffering Bumpass caused over the past 13 years.
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence, including Bumpass’ phone records, which placed him in Clermont County on the day of Johnson’s disappearance. They argued that he disposed of her body in the woods with utter disregard for the value of her life, treating her as nothing more than “a bag of trash,” as reported by FOX 19 Cincinnati.
Jacob Bumpass will now face sentencing for the charges of abusing a corpse and tampering with evidence as the community seeks closure and justice for Paige Johnson’s tragic case.
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