ARLINGTON, TN - Cops made an arrest in the murder of a pregnant woman found dead in her Arlington home Friday night, September 25, 2009.
Investigators say the killer is the father of the woman's unborn baby. They've identified the victim as 35-year-old Tonya Johnson.
26 year-old Tarence L. Nelson is charged with two counts of first degree murder. One for Johnson's death, and one for her unborn child.
Neighbors found Johnson inside her home in the 56-hundred block of Wolf Pack Drive in Arlington. She'd been shot several times.
Neighbors across the Arlington subdivision say they are breathing a collective sigh of relief now that the man investigators say killed their neighbor, her unborn child is behind bars.
“I'm really pleased there has been an arrest. Nobody deserves to go out that way. It's really sad. I hope justice will be served,” said neighbor Ingrid Kimble.
“Sheriff's detectives have been talking with people close to Ms. Johnson from the very beginning. They are relieved that we have a break in the case,” said Shelby County Sheriff’s Department spokesman, Steve Shular.
Shular says deputies arrested Nelson in Murfreesboro Saturday night, September 26, 2009. That’s where he was living, but Nelson is from the Memphis area.
“I think it will make everybody in the neighborhood feel better about that. Especially the people who live next door,” said neighbor Richard Brooks.
According to investigators, Johnson and Nelson were arguing about their baby. Witnesses told investigators Nelson did not want the baby, which was due in weeks. He wanted Johnson to have an abortion.
“Even domestic violence it's uncalled for. It does make us feel safer around here. We are a community. We need to look out for one another,” Kimble said.
Neighbors saw a man in a dark colored car leaving Johnson's home shortly before she was found dead. Investigators say nelson and his car match those descriptions. Nelson has been charged with two counts of first degree murder.
“I think that's the least he should get. That's a horrible thing he did,” Brooks said.
Nelson is no stranger to the courts, he was arrested for theft in the past. Nelson is in the Rutherford County Jail, but will be transferred to Shelby County this week. He has an attorney, and hasn't said anything to investigators yet.
Johnson was 8 months into her pregnancy. Investigators say they don't know the sex of the baby. They're waiting on an autopsy for more information. That should be completed by the end of this week.
