Bio

Roger Leroy Johnson was a 48-year-old man from the Stockton, California, area. Public reporting described him as a former boyfriend of Rhonda Burks, the daughter of Pearl Burks and the mother of some of the children involved in the case. 

At the time of the murders, Johnson was believed to have been upset over the end of his relationship with Rhonda Burks. On May 15, 2001, Rhonda had gone to the San Joaquin County Courthouse in Stockton to seek a restraining order against Johnson. While she was away, her children and relatives were at a rural home on East Carpenter Road, just southeast of Stockton.

Johnson was described by authorities as armed with a handgun and knife. Reports stated that investigators believed the attack was connected to revenge over the breakup.

Murder Story

On May 15, 2001, deputies in San Joaquin County, California, responded to a 911 call from a 10-year-old boy who had escaped from a home on East Carpenter Road near Stockton. The boy told authorities that people inside the home were dead and that the killer had chased him from the house.

Inside and around the home, deputies found four victims dead. They were Pearl Burks, 48, and three of her grandchildren: Ashley Burks, 6, Bobby Burks, 4, and Mikhala Burks, 5. Early reporting stated that two bodies were found inside the home and two were found outside in the backyard.

Authorities identified Johnson as the suspect soon after the killings. Police said he had dated Rhonda Burks and was not the father of the children. Rhonda had left the children with Pearl Burks while she went to court to seek a restraining order. Investigators said Johnson was believed to have attacked the family because he was upset over the breakup.

A statewide search began after the murders. Johnson was believed to be driving a maroon Chevrolet pickup. Authorities released a description of him, including that he was 5 feet 6 inches tall, about 180 pounds, with blue eyes and slicked-back brown hair. He was also described as missing four fingers on his right hand.

On May 19, 2001, the search ended at Cherokee Memorial Park & Funeral Home in Lodi, California. Police found Johnson lying face down on or near his late wife’s grave. Reports stated that he had cut the main artery in at least one arm. One report also stated that he raised an arm and threw a grenade at officers before collapsing again.

Johnson died before he could be arrested, charged, tried, or convicted. Because of his death, the criminal case did not proceed to trial.