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CASE FILE #002

Darlenia Denise Johnson

Victim

Darlenia Denise Johnson

No verified photo on file

1971 · Age 16 · Washington, DC

Last Known Information

Darlenia Denise Johnson, 16, of the Congress Heights neighborhood, was abducted on July 8, 1971 while on her way to her summer job at the Oxon Hill Recreation Center. A witness reported seeing her in an old black car shortly afterward. Her body was found eleven days later, only about 15 feet from where Carol Spinks had been found.

Location

Washington, DC

Discovery / Timeline
  • 1971: Case opens — victim reported missing or found.
  • Documented milestones (renewed investigation, media coverage, family advocacy) to be added as sourced.
  • Present: case remains unresolved. No named suspect has been convicted.
Investigation
  • Victim identity, age, and the July 8, 1971 abduction date, per the Metropolitan Police Department.
  • A witness reported seeing her in a car shortly after her abduction.
What Remains Unknown
  • No confirmed suspect has been named and convicted.
  • Autopsy findings on cause of death were affected by a delayed police response to reports of the body, per public reporting.
Sources
  • Metropolitan Police Department (MPDC) — official case page
  • Wikipedia — background reference
  • Project Cold Case
  • Murder Accountability Project
  • NamUs
Unanswered Questions
What is publicly documented about where she was last seen?
What, if anything, distinguishes this case's evidence from the others in the series?
Has this case file been reviewed using modern forensic methods?
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