Search Intensifies For Pregnant Mother, Son In Lake Dallas
Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2003 12:25 pm
Police Suspect Boyfriend's Involvement In Disappearance
Frank Heinz, Convergence Editor
POSTED: 11:34 a.m. CDT June 12, 2003
UPDATED: 12:17 p.m. CDT June 12, 2003
LAKE DALLAS, Texas -- An intense search is under way in Lake Dallas for a pregnant woman and her young son who have been reported missing.
Denise Johnson, 23, has been missing for nearly two weeks, while her son, Michael, has been missing since Sunday.
Michael was last seen with Johnson's boyfriend, Steven Wiederhold (pictured, left), 26, who police suspect is responsible for Denise's disappearance.
Arnold Lynn, Michael's father, has raised questions with authorities as to why an Amber Alert has not been issued for his missing son.
"I am furious to the fact that nobody has contacted me, and they have known about this [Johnson's disappearance] for at least a week now," Lynn said. Lynn said authorities told him that because his son and ex-wife lived with Wiederhold, the case does not meet the guidelines for an Amber Alert.
He also said police told him that Wiederhold was heard bragging about killing his girlfriend, then stuffing her body into a 50-gallon barrel filled with cement.
According to Lynn, police found a container with cement mix, imprints on the carpet to match a 50-gallon drum, several air fresheners, incense and baking soda in Wiederhold's apartment.
Now, Lynn is making his own plea for help, asking the public and whoever has Michael to return his young son.
"Just please pull over and give him to somebody ... a church ... put him on a corner ... just let him go ... he hasn't hurt anybody," Lynn said.
Lake Dallas police have not yet returned calls to NBC 5 reporter Carol Wang, but Wang was told authorities are searching for a red barrel along the Red River.
Frank Heinz, Convergence Editor
POSTED: 11:34 a.m. CDT June 12, 2003
UPDATED: 12:17 p.m. CDT June 12, 2003
LAKE DALLAS, Texas -- An intense search is under way in Lake Dallas for a pregnant woman and her young son who have been reported missing.
Denise Johnson, 23, has been missing for nearly two weeks, while her son, Michael, has been missing since Sunday.
Michael was last seen with Johnson's boyfriend, Steven Wiederhold (pictured, left), 26, who police suspect is responsible for Denise's disappearance.
Arnold Lynn, Michael's father, has raised questions with authorities as to why an Amber Alert has not been issued for his missing son.
"I am furious to the fact that nobody has contacted me, and they have known about this [Johnson's disappearance] for at least a week now," Lynn said. Lynn said authorities told him that because his son and ex-wife lived with Wiederhold, the case does not meet the guidelines for an Amber Alert.
He also said police told him that Wiederhold was heard bragging about killing his girlfriend, then stuffing her body into a 50-gallon barrel filled with cement.
According to Lynn, police found a container with cement mix, imprints on the carpet to match a 50-gallon drum, several air fresheners, incense and baking soda in Wiederhold's apartment.
Now, Lynn is making his own plea for help, asking the public and whoever has Michael to return his young son.
"Just please pull over and give him to somebody ... a church ... put him on a corner ... just let him go ... he hasn't hurt anybody," Lynn said.
Lake Dallas police have not yet returned calls to NBC 5 reporter Carol Wang, but Wang was told authorities are searching for a red barrel along the Red River.
