Missing Person

John Johnson

John Wesley Johnson, 37, left his residence in July 2021 and did not return. NamUs lists the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office as the investigating agency and the case as open. Human remains found near Hatton in 2024 were publicly considered for comparison with two missing-person cases, but the supplied sources do not identify them as Johnson's.

Incident date: July 2021
Location: Lawrence County
Independent sources: 2

The record

John Wesley Johnson was 37 when he disappeared in July 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. NamUs says Johnson left his residence and did not return. His direction of travel was unknown.1

The NamUs record does not provide a specific date of last contact or a location. It identifies the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office as the primary investigating agency and lists the case as open and unresolved.1

In March 2024, WAFF reported that Lawrence County deputies and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation searched woods along Alabama Highway 101 in Hatton after a man found a human skull on the highway’s east side. Lawrence County Coroner Scott Norwood told the station that additional bones were recovered and that the remains appeared to be those of a man.2

At that time, the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office said it was unknown whether the remains belonged to Johnson or another missing man, Steven White, according to WAFF. The report did not establish a connection between Johnson and the remains.2

No later identification or resolution is included in the supplied documents. NamUs continues to identify Johnson’s record, MP84486, as open and unresolved.1

Timeline

July 2021Confirmed
John Wesley Johnson left his residence and did not return; his direction of travel was unknown.
February 27, 2024Reported
According to a March 1 WAFF report describing the search as beginning Tuesday, Lawrence County deputies and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation began searching woods along Highway 101 after a skull was found.
March 1, 2024Reported
WAFF reported that additional bones had been recovered and that authorities did not know whether the remains belonged to John Johnson or Steven White.
Current in supplied NamUs recordConfirmed
NamUs lists Johnson's case as open and unresolved.

Documented claims

The Lawrence County Sheriff's Office said it was unknown whether the remains belonged to John Johnson or Steven White.
Reported
Source: WAFF 48 · Single-source claim.
The supplied sources do not establish that the remains were connected to Johnson or later identified.
Unknown
Source: WAFF 48 · Single-source claim.
John Wesley Johnson was 37 at the time of his disappearance.
Confirmed
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, NamUs · Single-source claim.
In July 2021, Johnson left his residence, did not return and had an unknown direction of travel.
Confirmed
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, NamUs · Single-source claim.
NamUs does not provide a specific date of last contact or a location in the supplied record.
Confirmed
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, NamUs · Single-source claim.
The Lawrence County Sheriff's Office is the primary investigating agency.
Confirmed
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, NamUs · Single-source claim.
NamUs case MP84486 is listed as open and unresolved.
Confirmed
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, NamUs · Single-source claim.
In February 2024, Lawrence County deputies and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation searched a wooded area along Highway 101 in Hatton after a man found a skull on the highway's east side.
Reported
Source: WAFF 48 · Single-source claim.
Lawrence County Coroner Scott Norwood said additional bones were recovered and the human remains appeared to be those of a man.
Reported
Source: WAFF 48 · Single-source claim.

Sources

NamUs case MP84486 — John Wesley Johnson — U.S. Department of Justice, NamUsOpen
Could remains found in Lawrence County be linked to missing persons case? — WAFF 48Open