PORTAGE, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Police in Portage are continuing to investigate a case of a couple who were reported missing on Tuesday.
UPDATE Thursday 2/11/2021 6:25 a.m.:
No major updates as of Thursday morning. Police are still on site at the couple’s home on Romence Rd. in Portage. Their son, Nicholas Johnson is in custody and is said to have a lengthy criminal history. He is currently not charged in the disappearance of his parents.
UPDATE – Wednesday 2/10/2021 4:05 p.m.:
WOOD-TV reported Wednesday afternoon that the vehicle of Laura Johnson has been found.
According to the report, the car was recovered at the Milham Meadows apartment complex, which is also where police located and arrested the couple’s son, 27-year-old Nicholas Johnson.
Johnson was a known parole absconder, and was arraigned Wednesday for charges of felony firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm. During that arraignment, Judge Richard Santoni set a bond for him at $100,000, adding that amount was partly due to the disappearance of his parents.
However, at this time, Nicholas Johnson has not been publicly named as a suspect in their case.
UPDATE – Wednesday 2/10/2021 11:55 a.m.:
Portage police are now saying that during their investigation into the whereabouts of Gary and Laura Johnson, they discovered “evidentiary signs of violence” inside the home during a preliminary investigation. They have not given any specifics about what exactly they found and still maintain that they are still trying to locate the couple.
Officers were sent to the home in the 2300 block of Romence Rd. Tuesday. After multiple attempts to make contact with anyone inside the home, and during a walk around the outside of the home, officers became suspicious and concerned for the Johnson’s well-being. It was decided that entry would be made into the home. Once inside, officers found both Gary and his wife Laura were not present.
The investigation into the whereabouts of the Johnsons continues, with family and associates continuing to work with investigators. There is currently no one in custody for any crime related to the investigation, and investigators continue to follow up on all leads. Information concerning the Johnson’s whereabouts within the past seven days is still under investigation.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Police in Portage were still on scene Wednesday morning at a home on Romence Road as they continue searching for two residents who are missing.
Police say they were asked by the employer of Gary Johnson to perform a welfare check Tuesday when he didn’t show up at work. He was not home and another resident, Laura Johnson, has also not been located.
In an update, WWMT reports that police are in contact with a family member and that they still consider this a welfare check, but also are concerned about he wellbeing of the two residents. They are not releasing any other information at this time. Police continue to reiterate that this case involves “a lot of moving pieces being investigated”.
Anyone with information on their whereabouts or anything related to the case should call Portage police immediately.
We will continue to update this story as details become available.
