14-year-old cold case solved in Stephens County

A 14-year-old Stephens County cold case was solved this week following a joint effort between state and local law enforcement agencies.

A new investigation with the Texas Ranger Unsolved Crime Investigation Program (UCIP) and Stephens County Sheriff Office into the 2010 murder of Jimmy Whitt produced enough evidence to prosecute former suspect Charles Johnson.

Whitt was found murdered Jan. 18, 2010 in his Stephens County residence, according to press releases from the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety. 

Johnson, who passed away in March 2022, was one of the original suspects in the investigation from SCSO, Breckenridge Police Department and the Texas Rangers. As the investigation continued into 2015, the case was suspended due to the lack of new leads or developments.

“I came back (to SCSO) in 2017 as chief deputy and started examining this case along with some other cold cases and visited with rangers then,” Stephens County Sheriff Kevin Roach said. “I have talked to …multiple rangers over the years since 2017.”

A reinvestigation of the case was started in 2024 with UCIP assisting SCSO. There is no statute of limitations on the offense of murder, which allows investigators to continue to a successful resolution or until no other leads remain.

District Attorney Dee Peavy said it was early this week when DPS reached out to her regarding the case. She agreed that there was sufficient evidence to prosecute Johnson for the murder of Whitt.

“When it occurred DNA (testing) hadn’t reached the level it has now that was problematic,” Peavy said. “Some of the people involved in the case were afraid to say anything. Once this man that committed the crime passed away, more people were willing to talk about it.”

During the new investigation multiple interviews were conducted that revealed new details.

“Through the new investigation, Charles Larry Johnson was confirmed to be responsible for the murder of Jimmy Whitt and was also found to be in possession of firearms and jewelry which had been removed from Whitt’s home at the time of his murder,” the release states.

Peavy said that through the new investigation and new information gathered that it was clear that Johnson was the correct suspect. She expressed appreciation at being able to bring this case to a close.

“I am so glad that the rangers were involved in trying to solve some of these cold cases that have existed for quite some time,” she said. “You never know what you’re going to learn in some of those cases. It’s very important to the families of the victims to know that the person that committed a violent crime against their family member, to know that the person (responsible), in some ways, is held accountable.”