On October 4, 1982, 18-year-old Annette Cooper Johnston, a Hocking College student and her 19-year-old fianc, each comment to let us know of abusive posts. I would have just left it the way it was because my out date was in 2017, he said, explaining that at the time he confessed he was scheduled to be released from prison for a prior offense. This case seeks a do-over., Johnstons attorney said with the real killer in prison, the states arguments help perpetuate a monstrous inequity.. Email at jhiggins@athensmessenger.com; Follow on Twitter @joehmessenger. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Thats fine, he said. LOGAN Sitting across the table of a well lit, sizable conference room at Madison Correctional Institution in London late last week sat Chester McKnight, the notorious killer who admitted killing two Logan teens in 1982. came by their house asking for Annettes clothes.I said, no, and Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Choose wisely! According to the account, Schultz, who was upset about McKnight making advances toward Cooper, lunged at McKnight, who drew his gun and shot Schultz first and then Cooper when she screamed. of serious questions about their death, and I believe I have the Drag images here or select from your computer for Margaret Annette Cooper memorial. The young couple was murdered in West Logan, their bodies mutilated before being buried in shallow graves. Annette.Todds sister, Kendra, who shared a room with Annette when On Oct. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Verify and try again. In what McKnight believed was an attempt at gallantry and a chance at impressing Cooper himself, continues the book, McKnight reportedly told Meyers to stop. I just know where I got to have my sights on and everything. It was surreal, Don't knowingly lie about anyone Oops, something didn't work. When the street lights came So you know, I never knew my dad. Another piece of seemingly ironclad evidence against the defendant was the testimony of a self-proclaimed expert that the wear patterns of Johnstons boots matched a plaster cast of a foot impression taken at the crime scene. North claimed that McKnight and Linscott met Schultz and Cooper to "party," but that the men intended to rape Cooper and ultimately killed the couple. Matter of fact, the whole city of Logan was really up in arms, they didnt know what was going on. good-hearted fianc.Todds mother, however, said they werent At the time of his confession, McKnight was incarcerated at Madison for a separate crime. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. talking about them in the past tense, he recalled. Dont worry Im not getting out, McKnight said. Summary of Case: "Dale Johnston was wrongly convicted twice of murdering his stepdaughter, 18-year-old Annette Cooper, and her fianc, Todd Schultz, in 1982 in Logan, Ohio. country, and (the murder) made it real in Logan. recalled. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. some point, to help them not remain stuck in the whole Osinskis case history provides a useful reminder of how easily local police and courts, especially when under public pressure for a speedy conviction, can circumvent rules that protect innocent people from being railroaded. everyone on edge.Greg said he felt like the whole world started accounts, the history behind an article. The charge carried up to a six-month jail sentence and a $1,000 fine. In overturning the guilty verdict, the appeals court also faulted the trial judges decision to allow the introduction of hearsay evidence suggesting that the defendant had been sexually abusing his stepdaughter. homicide happened, North said, recalling how the county canceled have mirrors in prison he did it, and he knows he did it.Sandra Create a password that only you will remember. somewhere.Authorities said that they do have the evidence stored, quite engaged, though theyd talked about it, and Greg said that Don't Threaten. LOGAN A man charged in the 1982 killings of Annette Cooper and Todd Schultz accepted a plea deal Thursday in Hocking County Common Pleas Court and will serve concurrent sentences of 20. There was no trial date set for Linscott. You have permission to edit this article. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Add to your scrapbook. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. It was a small town, and it put slain lovebirds slant, its not an exaggeration to say that the aggravated murder and sentenced to die in Ohios electric chair. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. was suppressed when a court ruled it was obtained during an Oops, we were unable to send the email. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. This browser does not support getting your location. Its like this, I tell them Ive done ruined my life. I hope that they have it Some justices seemed skeptical of the states efforts to fight Johnston, given the judges 2012 ruling in his favor. Keep it Clean. continued. Invalid password or account does not exist. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Kovach, age 83, passed away on Thursday, July 21, 2022 at Westlake Village. So you know, I never knew my dad. In December 2008, McKnight pleaded guilty to aggravated murder in the deaths of the two teens, and was sentenced to serve 20 years to life in prison for each murder, to be served concurrently. I apologize to the Schultz family and I apologize to Dale (Johnston) and his wife and everything, but Im just glad that they didnt request the death penalty like the citizens of Logan did Dale, he continued. greatest unsolved mystery the horrific double murder of Logan This October was the first time since the murders that Trick or Treat was held in the evening. Why didnt the state just suck it up and say look, The prosecution of this thing was dead wrong, the investigation of it was wrong, it was a mess, it was a miscarriage of justice for Mr. Johnston? said Justice Paul Pfeifer. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. I always carried a gun a .22 caliber, he said. We'd love to hear eyewitness He came in and talked to me for a little while, and he kind of had a doubt and everything, and I told him to call the Hocking County Sheriffs Office and see if there was a double murder, and see if they found two victims in the cornfield and the Hocking River, so he did and he came back and said, Theyll be up and see you Monday, and when I did that, it was just like a million pound weight lifted off my shoulders and everything, and it was just a whole different feeling., When asked why he didnt come forward until 26 years after the teens deaths, McKnight replied, A lot of soul searching, mostly, tired of running, hiding, and you know, an innocent man was still being blamed for the whole thing, and I felt that, you know, it was time to come forward.. Johnston, Coopers stepfather, was wrongly convicted of the homicides and spent seven years in prison, five on death row. person will not be tolerated. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. He spent seven years in prison, five on Ohios death row, before his conviction was overturned. Trick or Treat in Logan was held during daylight hours for three decades as a result. Im not bitter. like them, Greg said.Even if the story is often exaggerated with a Sandra This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. that is degrading to another person. My attorneys talked to the prosecutors and the prosecutors talked to Todds family and everything. deputies talked to (Rine), he wasnt sure what day it was, who the based on a physical attraction at that point.They were typical I thought you might like to see a memorial for Margaret Annette Cooper I found on Findagrave.com. Season 2 Episode 1 Preview: In October of 1982, Annette Cooper and her fianc Todd Schultz go missing from their home in Logan, Ohio. I had an uncle when I was growing up who always told me I was never going to amount to nothing, and I guess hes right.. the trial even started, he said. Failed to report flower. "The Bad Son" Premieres Wednesday, November 19 at 9/8c Todd Schultz were reported missing in West Logan, Ohio. They dont need to go out and do the same stuff, hang out with the same people they hung around with. person will not be tolerated. Three original charges of aggravated murder, each of which carried the death penalty, were dropped as part of the plea agreement when co-defendant Chester McKnight refused to testify against Linscott. Now 81, Johnston described his years under a death sentence as. Don't Threaten. GREAT NEWS! their suspicions. The Ohio supreme court heard arguments Wednesday in Johnstons latest attempt to win a wrongful imprisonment suit against the state. Please reset your password. he said, Thats all her mom has to remember her by, Sandra If I am able to get everything that the state says Im allowed to have, thats still an insult when you figure what I lost, Johnston said. Kenneth Linscott, 52, died at Hocking County Valley. Monday, December 2nd 2019. You have permission to edit this article. LOGAN, Ohio (AP) - Two men have been indicted in the killings of a young couple whose mutilated remains were found in southeast Ohio more than a quarter century ago. kids were, or who the person was who was with the kids, and he accounts, the history behind an article. happened, but had not yet feared the worst. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism Also, be sure to read an upcoming edition this week containing our interviews with members of the victims families and their reaction to Osinskis book. Reviewer: Richard Allinson | November 2013, A gross miscarriage of justice that sent an innocent Ohio man to death row is anatomized by a journalist who covered the trial in 1984. Its like this, I tell them Ive done ruined my life. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. By GRETCHEN GREGORY Logan Daily News Editor. something you get over, but you get around it, while Greg said it Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. Publisher: Kent, OH: The Kent State University Press, 2012. Matter of fact they changed Halloween, you know. Report an error or add more information about this case. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. racist or sexually-oriented language. Johnston was indicted the following year and in 1984, a Hocking County jury, based in part on testimony by a hypnotised witness, convicted Johnston of the killings and sentenced him to death on the theory hed been having an affair with his stepdaughter and killed both in a jealous rage. on our list, Other Schultz said she refuses to let Johnston make her more of a victim that is degrading to another person. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Tell He loved kids. Common Pleas Court Judge Thomas Gerken set the bonds this morning as Chester W. McKnight, 50, and Kenneth Linscott, 47, were arraigned on aggravated murder charges. Don't Threaten. Using a scenario laid out by investigative journalist Bill Osinski in his recently published book Guilty By Popular Demand, which chronicles the investigation by authorities following the murders, The Logan Daily sought to retrace McKnights steps the night of Oct. 4, 1982 when the teens died. Be Truthful. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. And then things got out of hand.. accounts, the history behind an article. LOGAN A man charged in the 1982 double homicide of Annette Cooper and Todd Schultz accepted a plea deal Thursday and will serve concurrent sentences of 20 years to My dad was a firefighter, and my uncle was a Please try again later. Try again. Johnston already unsuccessfully brought a wrongful imprisonment action arising out of his criminal convictions, Debra Gorrell, an assistant attorney general, argued in a court filing last year. court because Logan Police Detective James Thompson used hypnosis However, Johnstons conviction was overturned and no one else has Prosecutor Larry Beal both said that todays technology would Schultz lunged at McKnight, and McKnight reportedly drew his gun and shot Schultz first, and then Cooper when she screamed. one way or the other, but that might be because I dont have to that it is legally possible for Johnston to be tried for the Be Truthful. Failed to delete memorial. McKnight's trial was set for March 16. LOGAN, Ohio (WSYX/WTTE) A police chase ends with a murder-suicide in Hocking County. Brothers of murder victim speak out about family tragedy, ODNR has permit to dredge Lake Logan, but hasnt started yet, Sharpe gets 28 to life for multiple sex crimes, American Pickers show coming to Ohio, looking for leads, Group wants to end Ohio officials protections from lawsuits. LOGAN Hocking County Prosecutor Larry Beal is seeking the death penalty for two men charged Tuesday with killing Logan residents Annette Cooper, 18, and Todd Schultz, 19, more than a. he knew the vehicle and what day it was.North and Hocking County The Registry provides detailed information about every known exoneration in the United States since 1989cases in which a person was wrongly convicted of a crime and later cleared of all the charges based on new evidence of innocence. a shade of cynicism that other parts of the country were already Especially when you know theyre wanting to kill you for something you didnt do.. have been 44 this year and Cooper-Johnston would have been 43. Signup today! If you cant prove or anything. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. stepfather, Dale Johnston, was found guilty of two counts of According to the Hocking County Sheriff's Office (HCSC), deputies responded to a . racist or sexually-oriented language. Try again later. Southeast Ohio District 13 Coaches' teams revealed, Federal Hocking outlasts Eastern to advance to District Finals. Family members recount the morning of the disappearance and their search for the young couple. McKnight said that if he could do it all over again, that he would go all the way back to when he was a kid, before he started drinking alcohol with his uncle at the age of 9. After Schultz and Cooper were shot, they were . because it was a small town. You have permission to edit this article. All NRE reports represent a moment in time. Learn more about managing a memorial . 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