Florida woman accused of murder allegedly used accomplices to stay ahead of police
A Florida woman accused of murder has stayed on the run for weeks, and newly released arrest reports say a network of alleged accomplices helped
A Florida woman accused of murder has stayed on the run for weeks, and newly released arrest reports say a network of alleged accomplices helped her hide a body and dodge police. Deputies describe Isabelle Rose Johnson, 38, as a “master manipulator” who kept changing her appearance as authorities searched for her.
Johnson is accused of killing Jason Coulthart, 43, whose body was found buried in a shallow grave on a Florida property on June 25. He had last been seen alive on May 24. Authorities have now released new images of Johnson’s “distinctive tattoos” in an effort to help the public identify her as she uses disguises to avoid capture.
Arrest reports outline alleged help
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office arrest reports describe what investigators say was a small circle of people helping Johnson remain hidden. One witness told investigators that Johnson’s reported roommate, Bobbie Gean Wagstaff, 31, helped dig a hole to bury Coulthart’s body.
The same report includes a witness account saying Johnson killed the victim by placing a zip tie around his neck. That allegation has not been tested in court, but it gives a glimpse of the prosecution’s working theory and the role detectives say others may have played after the killing.
Authorities say the suspected accomplices did more than move dirt. They allegedly helped Johnson stay clear of law enforcement as the search widened across Florida. The reports released this week add to the picture of a fugitive who, deputies say, kept moving, changing her look and relying on others to stay one step ahead.
Public search widens
Investigators have urged anyone who spots Johnson to pay close attention to her tattoos, which deputies say remain one of the few stable identifiers as she alters her appearance. The new images released by authorities are meant to cut through the disguises and bring in tips from the public.
The case has drawn attention well beyond Walton County because it sits at the intersection of two grim realities familiar to police forces around the world: body disposal after a killing, and the challenge of tracking fugitives who can lean on networks of friends, family or associates to disappear for days or weeks at a time. In this case, investigators say the alleged support network may have included help at the burial site and help in avoiding arrest.
Johnson remains wanted, and the sheriff’s office is still trying to piece together who did what after Coulthart’s death. For now, deputies are banking on a recognizable detail — her tattoos — and a public tip that can break the case open.
Authorities say Johnson has been using various disguises to evade law enforcement. “See more of our coverage in your search results,” the original report noted, as deputies continued to circulate her image and push the search forward.
