RICHMOND, Va. – The remains found in bags last week near a Richmond junkyard have been confirmed as Katasha Johnson. Johnson was last seen June 3 when she dropped her daughter off at a day care center in north Richmond. Over a week later her remains were found in a construction area off Jennie Scher.
The remains were discovered in multiple bags as workers cleared brush at the site. The site is less than half a mile away from Johnson’s apartment.
Katasha Johnson (PHOTO: Richmond Police)
Johnson’s family members said she had been living with her boyfriend David Rios before she disappeared. Johnson met Rios at Visions nightclub in Shockoe Bottom three months ago, according to her family.
Richmond Police confirmed Rios was now in police custody on unrelated charges. He was arrested June 8 for three counts of simple assault. He is currently booked in the city jail on those charges and for violating a protection order and violating parole unrelated to Johnson’s disappearance and murder.
David Rios (PHOTO: Richmond Police)
Family members said the assault charges stemmed from Rios harming Johnson’s three children.
WTVR CBS 6 reporter Melissa Hipolit also uncovered court records that showed Rios was convicted of maliciously wounding a 17-year-old, and one other person during a robbery in 1998. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison for that crime. Police have not charged Rios in connection with the Johnson case. The cause of her death is under investigation.
Anyone with information was asked to call Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000. To share information about this situation, you can submit a news tip here.
Stay with WTVR.com and watch CBS 6 News for continuing coverage of this important local story.
