Christina M. Dixon and Matthew J. Johnson die in fatal Fort Wayne shooting
Christina M. Dixon and Matthew J. Johnson die in fatal Fort Wayne shooting
Fatal Fort Wayne shooting death of Christina M. Dixon and Matthew J. Johnson – Obituary
In a tragic incident, two individuals were discovered deceased in trash bags that had been discarded in a river in Fort Wayne, Indiana, after suffering multiple violent injuries. Authorities have arrested a suspect, identified as Dominique Washington, who is described as a known drug dealer, on charges of murder.
Last Friday, the bodies of 40-year-old Christina Dixon and 41-year-old Matthew Johnson were recovered from the St. Mary’s River by local police. Washington, aged 29, is now in custody at the Allen County Jail, facing felony murder and kidnapping charges.
The grim discovery was made around 1 p.m. when volunteers, who were cleaning the river near Guldlin Park, noticed the large bags. The Allen County Coroner later confirmed the identities of the victims and ruled their deaths as homicides, with Dixon’s cause of death being strangulation and suffocation, while Johnson suffered a gunshot wound and a stab wound.
Authorities learned that both victims were reported missing by the Richmond Police Department on September 19, just one day prior to their bodies being found. Cell phone data provided crucial information about their last known movements.
Tracking the victims’ cell phones revealed they were active until approximately 4:45 p.m. on September 19. Johnson’s last recorded location was at the Genesis Apartments in Richmond. Surveillance footage captured him arriving at the complex around 4:19 p.m. on his motorcycle. The following day, a white vehicle was seen leaving the lot with Johnson’s motorcycle in tow.
Witnesses reported that Dixon had been at home when Johnson called her around 4:45 p.m. to come outside. Shortly after, she left in a silver car, and thereafter, both victims’ phones went offline. Detectives later recovered the phones after a local resident discovered them in a trash can.
The final action on Johnson’s phone was adding a contact named “Nico Bro.” Investigators identified “Nico” as Dominique Washington, who was believed to have played a role in the victims’ abduction.
A witness mentioned that on September 19, someone named “Rooster” had requested a ride to the Genesis Apartments. This witness later identified Washington as “Rooster.” Law enforcement tracked Washington’s vehicle, a 2011 white GMC Acadia, which had moved between Richmond and Fort Wayne around the time the victims went missing.
As the investigation progressed, detectives gathered evidence suggesting that Washington had transported Dixon and Johnson to Fort Wayne after committing the murders. Court documents indicated that he allegedly lured them into a vehicle, deactivated their phones, and later disposed of their bodies in the river.
Washington was apprehended around 9:30 p.m. on Monday by a combined effort of state police and local law enforcement near his home. He is being held without bond on two counts of felony murder, kidnapping, and failing to report a body. Initial court hearings for Washington are set to begin on September 25.
Washington has a lengthy criminal record that includes multiple serious charges. Richmond Police Chief Kyle Weatherly expressed condolences to the families of the victims and emphasized the department’s commitment to achieving justice. He stated that more arrests and information would follow as the investigation continues.
Christina M. Dixon and Matthew J. Johnson die in fatal Fort Wayne shooting Fatal Fort Wayne shooting death of Christina M. Dixon and Matthew J. Johnson – Obituary In a tragic incident, two individuals were discovered deceased in trash bags that had been discarded in a river in Fort Wayne, Indiana, after suffering multiple violent…
Christina M. Dixon and Matthew J. Johnson die in fatal Fort Wayne shooting Fatal Fort Wayne shooting death of Christina M. Dixon and Matthew J. Johnson – Obituary In a tragic incident, two individuals were discovered deceased in trash bags that had been discarded in a river in Fort Wayne, Indiana, after suffering multiple violent…