Two former Farmington residents were reportedly among six people killed while camping near Tennessee Colony, Texas, Saturday night.
The bodies of Carl Johnson, 77, and his adult daughter, Hannah, were found Sunday morning after they and four others they were camping with were killed Saturday night, the Lewiston Sun-Journal reported.
During a press conference held by the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Monday afternoon, Sheriff Greg Taylor confirmed that the bodies of a man and a woman were found in a camper on the property. The bodies of four others who were initially considered missing were found in a pond on the suspect’s residence around 1:15 p.m. Monday.
Taylor did not give the names of the victims or any other information, but the Sun-Journal reported that Hannah Johnson’s 6-year-old son, Kade Johnson, Hannah’s boyfriend, Thomas Kamp, and Kamp’s two oldest children were among the other bodies found. Carl Johnson’s wife, Cynthia Johnson, witnessed the attack and is the only survivor.
Taylor said the “sole survivor” was injured in the attack and had been interviewed extensively by the district attorney.
She stayed overnight in the county’s crisis center, he said.
The group of seven people were camping on private property between Tennessee Colony and the Harmony Community in southeast Texas.
William Hudson, 35, was arrested and charged with one count of murder. He is being held on a $2.5 million bond, according to the sheriff’s department.
Taylor said that deputies were called to the campsite just before 7 a.m. Sunday morning after the sole survivor made her way to a main road and called 911.
Police believe that Hudson acted alone and said he has a previous record of violent behavior.
A family friend of the Johnson family told the Sun Journal that Hannah Johnson and Kamp bought the property where they were killed. The couple lived in Midlothian, Texas, about 100 miles from where they were camping.
Taylor said that Anderson County investigators, Palestine, Texas, police and Texas Rangers were still at the crime scene late Monday afternoon.
Carl and Cynthia Johnsons’ son, Erik, is owner of Sandy River Farms in Farmington.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this story.
Lauren Abbate — 861-9252
Twitter: @Lauren_M_Abbate
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.