City working first homicide in 2004

The Maryville Police Department is investigating the homicide of a 22-year-old Maryville man that they believe may have occurred Thursday, November 18, at the man’s residence.
The body of Michael Martin Johnson was found by Maryville police officers on Saturday, November 20 in a crawl space underneath his residence. Johnson appears to have died form a gunshot wound.
A family member of Johnson filed a missing person’s report with the Maryville Police Department Friday evening. The family member advised that they had not spoken to Johnson since Thursday evening, and that they had tried unsuccessfully tried to contact him during the day Friday. The family member added that it was very uncharacteristic of him not to return his messages.
The police became suspicious that foul play may have been involved after learning that the Blount County Sheriff’s Office took a report shortly after midnight Friday on a vehicle fire in a field off Davis Ford Road. The vehicle, a Chevrolet pick-up truck, came back registered to Johnson.
Detectives with the Maryville Police Department are continuing their investigation in the homicide. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Maryville Police Department at 981-1370 during normal business hours, or the 24hour crime hotline at 380-1388.

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