Cops in Florida just raised the reward for a woman on the run. She is wanted for murder. The U.S. Marshals just added new money to the reward fund. The total reward is now $16,000.
The woman is Isabelle Johnson. She is 38 years old. Cops want her for the death of Jason Coulthart. He was 43.
The search for Johnson has grown. Cops first looked only in Florida. Now they also search Georgia and Alabama. They say Johnson has family and friends in those states.
Coulthart went missing in May. His family reported him missing to Niceville police on May 24. He was last seen leaving the College Condominiums in Niceville, Florida.
Police kept digging. Detectives found a lead. It pointed to a property off Sunset Lane in Freeport, Florida. They got a search warrant. On June 25, they found human remains there. The remains were buried in a shallow grave. DNA tests later proved the remains were Coulthart's.
Niceville Police Chief Mark Hayse spoke about the case. "This is not the news we hoped to deliver to our Niceville community," Hayse said. "We stand with Jason's family and will continue working closely with our partners to see this case through."
Johnson has a warrant out for murder. Cops say she is dangerous. She is a white woman. She stands 5 feet 3 inches tall. She weighs about 120 pounds. She has brown hair and hazel eyes. Cops think she cut her hair short and dyed it. They believe she did this to hide who she is.
Johnson also uses fake names to trick people. Cops say she goes by Harley, Jessica Elaine Bowman, Jessica Elaine Thrush, Jessica Dowdy, and "Denise." She has a flower tattoo on her left hand. She has another tattoo on her right ankle. Investigators say she tells fake sad stories. She may claim she is a victim of abuse. She uses these stories to get rides and cash from strangers.
Five people are already in jail for helping Johnson hide. All five face a charge called accessory to a capital felony after the fact. In plain terms, that means helping a murder suspect avoid arrest. It is a serious felony charge on its own.
The first arrest was Bobbi Wagstaff, 31. Deputies later arrested Martin and Sandra Leaverton. They are a married couple in their 60s from Fort Walton Beach. Cops say the Leavertons got Johnson's things. They gave her a phone. They tried to help her hide outside Florida.
The most recent arrests came July 10. Deputies charged Michael Ray White, 74, and Kathleen Morris, 59. Both are from Santa Rosa Beach. Cops say the pair gave Johnson a place to stay. They drove her around. They lied to deputies about where she was.
Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson says the arrests will not stop. "The next step in this investigation is to hold every single person involved in Jason's death accountable," Adkinson said. "If they knew, if they helped, or if they chose not to speak up, they will have to answer for their role in this."
This case is getting attention across the country. That includes here in Texas, where TV stations have shared Johnson's photo and the warning about her. No official Texas connection to the case has come out yet. Cops have not said they think Johnson is in Texas. But she moves around a lot. She uses fake names too. So investigators want people everywhere to watch for her.
Cops say do not approach Johnson if you see her. Call 911 right away instead. Anyone with tips on where she might be can call the Walton County Sheriff's Office. That number is 850-892-8111. You can also call Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers at 850-863-8477. You do not have to give your name. You can still get the reward money.