11/09/1976 - Report #46 - Victim: James Monroe DePriest - Location: Jefferson County, MO

MCS Report #46

Classification: Homicide

Requesting Agency: Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department

Date of Activation: 11/09/1976

Commander and Department: Maj. Robert Lowery, Florissant PD

Victim: James Monroe DePriest

Suspects: Roger John Johnson, Wayne Ronald Johnson, and Bernard Benjamin Jolly Jr

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department requested the assistance of the Major Case Squad in investigating the death of James DePriest (age 53). Deputies responded to the Winco Service Station (located at the junction of Highway 21 and North Highway near DeSoto, MO) for a report of a possible robbery and kidnapping. When deputies arrived on scene, they found evidence of a store robbery. The store clerk, James DePriest, was missing. James’ body was later located 3 miles away. He had been shot and was pronounced dead on scene.

As a result of this investigation, Roger Johnson (age 19) was charged with Capital Murder. Wayne Johnson (age 21) and Bernard Jolly (age 19) were each charged with Murder 1st Degree.