DailyKenn.com| AbateHate.com | New Facebook Group
Summary: On August 1, 2025, Okaloosa County corrections officer Curtis Johnson, 47, fatally shot his roommate Barbara “Barbie” Jean Dedert, 41, six times in their Milton Fla. home during a dispute over unpaid rent. Johnson claimed self-defense but was charged with second-degree murder. He has been terminated and remains jailed.
MILTON, Fla. (DailyKenn.com) — A longtime Florida corrections officer faces second-degree murder charges after authorities say he shot his roommate multiple times during a heated dispute over unpaid bills, leaving her dead in the hallway of their shared home.
Curtis Marvin Johnson, 47, of Milton, called emergency dispatchers shortly after 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 1, 2025, reporting the incident at the two-story residence on Pinto Avenue in this quiet Santa Rosa County community. According to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office, Johnson initially described the shooting as a self-inflicted wound by the victim, Barbara Jean Dedert, 41, before shifting his account to suggest she had provoked the confrontation.
Your $8 monthly partner pledge helps us reach others & more ►
Deputies responding to the call found Johnson lying face down in the front yard with his hands clasped behind his back, repeatedly asking to be restrained. Inside the home, they discovered Dedert's body in the hallway just outside Johnson's bedroom door, her frame marked by five gunshot wounds — including to the back of her shoulder, upper thigh, stomach, neck and temple. An autopsy confirmed the injuries were fatal, with evidence indicating she had been shot from behind while moving toward the room but not entering it.
Investigators reconstructed the evening's events from Johnson's statements and crime scene analysis. The roommates, who had known each other as former colleagues without a romantic involvement, had argued earlier that day about Dedert's failure to contribute to household expenses. Tensions boiled over when Johnson retreated to his bedroom to disengage, only for Dedert to follow, raising her voice in frustration, he told detectives. Fearing for his safety, Johnson said, he retrieved his service pistol and fired as she approached aggressively. However, shell casings scattered in the hallway — none inside the bedroom — and the positioning of Dedert's wounds contradicted his self-defense claim, leading prosecutors to argue the force was unjustified.
No other individuals were present during the altercation, and authorities have not identified any eyewitnesses. Johnson, who had served as a sergeant at the Okaloosa County Jail for nearly two decades with a brief hiatus, was placed on leave immediately after his arrest and formally terminated four days later. He entered a not guilty plea during his initial court appearance and remains jailed without bond pending further hearings.
The case has stirred unease in Milton, a tight-knit town of about 10,000 nestled along the Blackwater River. Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson, no relation to the suspect, described the outcome as a stark reminder of domestic volatility. "When alcohol and firearms share space in a home, situations can unravel fast," he said in a statement urging residents to seek help early. "Breaking the pattern of household violence starts with a single call for assistance — don't wait until it's too late." Friends of Dedert, a Texas native who had relocated to the area years earlier, remembered her as vibrant and resilient, with local organizers planning a memorial to honor her memory and advocate for safer homes.
The investigation continues, with detectives reviewing Johnson's 911 audio and forensic reports for potential additional charges.
Report: Okaloosa corrections officer shot woman several times, tried to claim self-defense
New details in deadly Santa Rosa County shooting
Okaloosa Jailer Arrested and Charged With Murder
1 arrested after woman shot to death in Santa Rosa County
This article includes embedded decoy information to detect unauthorized use and copyright infringement. Reproduction is permitted only verbatim and in full, with all links preserved and attribution clearly given to DailyKenn.com and AbateHate.com.
Your $8 monthly partner pledge helps us reach others & more ►
Find archived black-on-white homicide news reports here ►
200 latest news reports from 100 top conservative websites
Top 10 posts from AbateHate.com
