Johnson’s slaying remains unsolved, but a man was convicted of offering Johnson drugs in exchange for sex near the time of her death.
George Donald Davis, 24, of Cincinnati, pleaded guilty to charges of importuning, drug trafficking and attempting to compel prostitution, a few months after Johnson was found. He was sentenced to 5½ years in prison.
Neither Davis nor anyone else has been charged with Johnson’s murder, but Tuesday Fairfield Officer Doug Day, department spokesman, said detectives are “very confident” they know who killed Johnson.
“It is in the hands of the prosecutor,” Day said, adding detectives continue to work on the case diligently.
Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser said the case remains in the hands of Fairfield detectives who have more work to do before the case is presented to a grand jury.
“I don’t appreciate the statement that it is in the hands of the prosecutor,” Gmoser said, noting he has met with Fairfield officers about the case and advised them what is needed before evidence is presented to a grand jury.
“When this case is ready, if and when it is ready, I want to make sure it results in a conviction and not just a crap shoot,” Gmoser said.
About 15 of Johnson’s friends and family gathered in Hamilton outside the Government Services Center Wednesday waving to passing vehicles and holding signs that read: “Two years is too long” and “Justice for Chelsea.”
Vicky Fible, Johnson’s mother, said the family is tired of the finger pointing back and forth between authorities.
“It has been two years and nothing,” Fible said. “We are tired of the runaround. It has been the same thing from day one. If this was Cincinnati, there would have been an arrest in two weeks.”
Fible said after two years, “I still see her (Chelsea) walk in that door.”
“She was only 15 years old, just a baby,” she said. “I just can’t stand it anymore.”
Fible said friends and family gathered at the Butler County Government Service Center on the anniversary of her daughter’s death because Fairfield police say they have turned evidence over to the prosecutor’s office.
“This is where the prosecutor is,” she said.
Fible said she does want to make sure the prosecution is 100 percent sure of a suspect before a trial, but after two years she believes Fairfield police need help.
“They have four unsolved murders. Hello, it is time to get some help,” Fible said.
Donna Johnson, Chelsea’s grandmother, said, “We just want them to work together. Chelsea needs justice.”
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