A year later, little progress reported in Johns case

By: 
Robert Maharry

December 1 marked the one-year anniversary of the discovery of the body of Michael Johns, a 28-year-old Grundy Center man, in an apparent homicide between Greene and Charles City in southern Floyd County. A suspect has never been formally charged in connection with his death, and the law enforcement agencies tasked with investigating the case have released almost no information publicly in the months since.
           
The Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) took the lead on the case in the immediate aftermath, and Special Agent in Charge (SAC) for the Northeast region Mike Krapfl has repeatedly responded to requests for details on the case with brief answers indicating that nothing has changed and no charges have been filed. 
           
Grundy County Sheriff Rick Penning has not received any recent updates, and a spokesperson for the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office reported that the department was no longer involved in the investigation in any way.
           
Johns, who was last seen alive via surveillance footage at a gas station in the Greene area, was reported missing on October 26, 2017, and investigators have suspected foul play throughout the process. An official cause of death has never been publicly disclosed. 
 
Follow the Grundy Register as further developments emerge. Subscribe by calling (319) 824-6958 or clicking here. 

The Grundy Register

601 G. Avenue - P.O. Box 245
Grundy Center, IA 50638
Telephone: 1-319-824-6958
Fax: 1-800-340-0805

Mid-America Publishing

This newspaper is part of the Mid-America Publishing Family. Please visit www.midampublishing.com for more information.