On Thursday, September 28, a tragic incident unfolded in Mobile County, Alabama. A woman, who is believed to have drowned her two children, subsequently allegedly ended her own life. Paul Burch, the Mobile County Sheriff, described the incident as “horrific.” 

Local reports identified the mother as 37-year-old Nancy Johnson, and her children as Jacob Johnson, 2, and Mia Johnson, 5. Preliminary investigations suggest that the children were drowned in the bathroom. Mia appeared to have had her throat slashed by a knife. Nancy Johnson was found hanged from a hallway closet rod with a silk belt. 

Autopsies performed on the children established that drowning was their cause of death, while Mia’s death was further compounded by the loss of blood from her knife injury. Semmes Police Chief Todd Friend, portrayed the chilling nature of the crime scene to the media, emphasizing its brutal and uncommon characteristics. The children were discovered on a sofa by their father, Derek Johnson, in their Semmes home. They had been cleaned up after being submerged in water and then covered with a blanket. As the investigation continues, Derek will not face any charges. 

Sheriff Burch expressed the need for introspection within the system, hinting at potential oversights by social services that may have played a contributing factor to the tragedy.  Police Chief Friend said his officers had answered at least six domestic calls at the Johnson house in the last few months and that the couple at various times called the police on each other. Nancy and Derek Johnson were in the middle of a divorce and custody battle. Court records indicated signs of Nancy having mental health issues. 

After a protection-from-abuse order was obtained against Derek at Nancy’s request in Utah in August, Derek filed for divorce the following day in Mobile County. In view of their problems, Judge Walter Honeycutt granted joint custody to both parents, stipulating that the Alabama Department of Human Resources oversee “protective supervision” for the children. The order also specified that Derek had to place a camper trailer in the backyard of their home for both parents to sleep in when they alternated weeks caring for their children. This new arrangement was supposed to begin on October 1.