Post by LadyBlue on May 8, 2012 7:09:10 GMT -5
FLORENCE, Ky. -- The mother of a missing northern Kentucky teen will ask a court to declare her daughter deceased.
Paige Johnson was last seen Sept. 21, when a friend told police he dropped her off in Covington.
That friend, Jacob Bumpass, has not been charged in Johnson's disappearance but has been jailed for nearly a year on an unrelated probation violation.
He has declined to cooperate with investigators in the teen's disappearance, police said.
"It's been almost a year and it's been nothing but misery the whole time and we just want answers," Paige's mother, Donna Johnson, said. "I feel like this is helping Paige more than anything."
Attorney Eric Deters said Tuesday that he would file paperwork on behalf of Johnson's mother to have the 18-year-old declared dead.
Afterward, they plan to sue Bumpass for wrongful death. Deters said he could not plead the Fifth Amendment, which permits defendants to avoid incriminating themselves, in a civil case.
"I don't know if this is going to bear fruit, but I just feel so bad for this mother. I have children. If my kid was missing, and there was a suspect out there, I would do anything and everything to find out what the heck happened," Deters said.
Deters said he was initially contacted by a family friend about unauthorized fundraising in the teen's name.
"We are going to force him (Bumpass) to sit in a chair, under oath, and he's going to have to answer questions," Deters said.
The attorney, who said he was not being paid for his work, said he would continue his attempts to stop those efforts.
Covington police and the Kenton County prosecutor said they continue receiving tips and following leads, and they are confident they will find Paige Johnson.
Investigators said that even while leads still come in, they believe that Bumpass knows much more than he's willing to admit.
Johnson's family has held vigils and organized search parties and fundraisers but still don't know any more than they did a year ago.
"He shouldn't let a year go by without explaining anything that happened with Paige," Johnson said.
Deters admited it won't be easy. The case is an active investigation and police will only release certain records.
"I don't know if this is going to bear fruit but I think it's worth a shot," Deters said.
Deters said the paperwork will be filed next week; at that point Bumpass has 20 days to respond.
The one year anniversary of Paige Johnson's disappearance is next week.
www.wlwt.com/r/29170523/detail.html
Paige Johnson was last seen Sept. 21, when a friend told police he dropped her off in Covington.
That friend, Jacob Bumpass, has not been charged in Johnson's disappearance but has been jailed for nearly a year on an unrelated probation violation.
He has declined to cooperate with investigators in the teen's disappearance, police said.
"It's been almost a year and it's been nothing but misery the whole time and we just want answers," Paige's mother, Donna Johnson, said. "I feel like this is helping Paige more than anything."
Attorney Eric Deters said Tuesday that he would file paperwork on behalf of Johnson's mother to have the 18-year-old declared dead.
Afterward, they plan to sue Bumpass for wrongful death. Deters said he could not plead the Fifth Amendment, which permits defendants to avoid incriminating themselves, in a civil case.
"I don't know if this is going to bear fruit, but I just feel so bad for this mother. I have children. If my kid was missing, and there was a suspect out there, I would do anything and everything to find out what the heck happened," Deters said.
Deters said he was initially contacted by a family friend about unauthorized fundraising in the teen's name.
"We are going to force him (Bumpass) to sit in a chair, under oath, and he's going to have to answer questions," Deters said.
The attorney, who said he was not being paid for his work, said he would continue his attempts to stop those efforts.
Covington police and the Kenton County prosecutor said they continue receiving tips and following leads, and they are confident they will find Paige Johnson.
Investigators said that even while leads still come in, they believe that Bumpass knows much more than he's willing to admit.
Johnson's family has held vigils and organized search parties and fundraisers but still don't know any more than they did a year ago.
"He shouldn't let a year go by without explaining anything that happened with Paige," Johnson said.
Deters admited it won't be easy. The case is an active investigation and police will only release certain records.
"I don't know if this is going to bear fruit but I think it's worth a shot," Deters said.
Deters said the paperwork will be filed next week; at that point Bumpass has 20 days to respond.
The one year anniversary of Paige Johnson's disappearance is next week.
www.wlwt.com/r/29170523/detail.html