Inset: James Alan Johnson (Chisago County Sheriff”s Office). Background: The highway leading into Wyoming, Minn. (Google Maps).
A Minnesota man is now in custody following a brutal attempt to murder his wife, an act thwarted by the unexpected timing of a package delivery, according to law enforcement in the state known for its myriad lakes.
James Alan Johnson, age 72, faces serious charges including attempted first-degree murder and assault with a dangerous weapon, as reported by the Chisago County Sheriff’s Office.
The dramatic incident unfolded on May 11, a day significant not only for the planned attack but also for the scheduled arrival of an Amazon package at the couple’s home.
Police were dispatched to a residence on Heims Lake Circle in the small town of Wyoming, located about 30 miles from Minneapolis. The call came from an Amazon delivery driver who heard frantic screams and witnessed a woman covered in blood, while a man wielded a hammer, court documents reveal, as noted by St. Paul-based ABC affiliate KSTP.
The delivery driver, upon delivering the package, bravely entered the home, confronted the 72-year-old Johnson, and urged him to release the hammer before promptly calling 911, authorities report.
According to the criminal complaint shared by Minnesota’s news outlet Bring Me the News, Johnson complied by handing over the hammer to the driver, who then placed it on a table. Meanwhile, Johnson retreated to the basement, marking the end of the immediate threat.
Police arrived to find the empty Amazon truck parked outside with the front door of the house wide open while the victim was found lying on her back on the living room floor in a pool of blood – yelling for help.
The victim was bleeding heavily from her head, arms, and hands, police said. Investigators also noted two large and bloody indentations on her head said to be consistent with multiple hammer blows.
“Upon arrival, officers located an adult female victim who had reportedly been struck in the head with a hammer,” the Wyoming Police Department said in a press release. “The victim was treated at the scene and transported to Regions Hospital in St. Paul for medical care.”
The woman, for her part, told police the defendant struck her twice with the hammer and that she managed to fend her husband off by kicking him in the groin, according to the charging document.
During an interview with law enforcement, Johnson allegedly said his business was facing financial ruin. The defendant said this looming collapse would likely force his wife to “potentially be living off of significantly reduced Social Security benefits and [he] did not want [her] to have to deal with that,” according to the complaint.
Johnson also allegedly admitted that he had been planning to kill his wife for several days, police said.
The defendant is currently detained in the Chisago County Jail on $1 million bond, records show. Johnson’s case has yet to be docketed in Minnesota’s online court system as of this writing.
