Response to the Sheriff
A number of posts on this site have revealed that the sheriff has responded to a number of letters written to him asking that he cooperate with the TBI on Johnia's case. We have received one of the letters written by the sheriff and would like to respond -
Sheriff Hutchison has stated that he has spent more time and resources on Johnia's case than any other in the history of his department. We were not aware that there was a dollar value placed on a person's life. To us, this comment is unacceptable. We have asked that the TBI be allowed to help with the investigation and doing so would cost Knox County nothing. And it certainly would not hurt the case.
He also mentions that a task force was formed 22 months ago to work the case and today claims that a full time detective has been assigned to Johnia's homicide. This all sounds fine, but our problem is that we have no regular communication with anyone from the sheriff's department. We have called repeatedly and left messages concerning leads that have been given to us directly, but our phone calls go unreturned.
The sheriff also states that he and an FBI profiler believe that Johnia's killer is still in the Knoxville area. If that's the case, then where is the proof that the suspect is still in Knoxville? The fact is that they have no suspect.
Our family is not critical of the investigation, but we are critical of Mr. Hutchison's refusal to utilize the resources available to him. He refuses assistance from the TBI, claiming that they only help with smaller departments. He also refuses to cooperate with reputable television programs like America's Most Wanted and 48 Hours that could bring national attention to Johnia's case. In short, the sheriff has done nothing to generate new leads. If Mr. Hutchison would utilize these resources, then maybe our daughter's case would not remain in his department's 9% of unsolved cases.
All we ask is that Sheriff Hutchison honor our request to allow the TBI to assist with the investigation and to cooperate with programs like America's Most Wanted and 48 Hours. We genuinely appreciate the efforts of the detectives who have logged hundreds of hours in search of Johnia's murderer, but we feel that the time has come to request outside assistance.
We have also spoken with District Attorney Randy Nichols and asked that he invite the TBI to assist in the investigation. He has refused.
All we want is that every possible resource be utilized in finding the person responsible for Johnia's death.
Sincerely,
Mike and Joan Berry
Sheriff's letter
Sheriff Hutchison has stated that he has spent more time and resources on Johnia's case than any other in the history of his department. We were not aware that there was a dollar value placed on a person's life. To us, this comment is unacceptable. We have asked that the TBI be allowed to help with the investigation and doing so would cost Knox County nothing. And it certainly would not hurt the case.
He also mentions that a task force was formed 22 months ago to work the case and today claims that a full time detective has been assigned to Johnia's homicide. This all sounds fine, but our problem is that we have no regular communication with anyone from the sheriff's department. We have called repeatedly and left messages concerning leads that have been given to us directly, but our phone calls go unreturned.
The sheriff also states that he and an FBI profiler believe that Johnia's killer is still in the Knoxville area. If that's the case, then where is the proof that the suspect is still in Knoxville? The fact is that they have no suspect.
Our family is not critical of the investigation, but we are critical of Mr. Hutchison's refusal to utilize the resources available to him. He refuses assistance from the TBI, claiming that they only help with smaller departments. He also refuses to cooperate with reputable television programs like America's Most Wanted and 48 Hours that could bring national attention to Johnia's case. In short, the sheriff has done nothing to generate new leads. If Mr. Hutchison would utilize these resources, then maybe our daughter's case would not remain in his department's 9% of unsolved cases.
All we ask is that Sheriff Hutchison honor our request to allow the TBI to assist with the investigation and to cooperate with programs like America's Most Wanted and 48 Hours. We genuinely appreciate the efforts of the detectives who have logged hundreds of hours in search of Johnia's murderer, but we feel that the time has come to request outside assistance.
We have also spoken with District Attorney Randy Nichols and asked that he invite the TBI to assist in the investigation. He has refused.
All we want is that every possible resource be utilized in finding the person responsible for Johnia's death.
Sincerely,
Mike and Joan Berry
Sheriff's letter
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