Text Messages Reveal New Details in Isabelle Johnson Bond Hearing
Murder suspect Isabelle Johnson appeared before a Walton County judge Wednesday afternoon for a pretrial detention hearing that revealed chilling text messages, a confession to a key witness, and gruesome new details about how Jason Coulthart’s body was found at a Freeport property.
The hearing, held at the Walton County Courthouse in DeFuniak Springs, did not produce an immediate ruling. The judge said he would take 24 hours to review his notes before deciding whether to set bond for Johnson, who has been held without bond since her first appearance on August 15.
The state called five witnesses during the proceedings. Investigators testified that when they found Coulthart’s remains buried under concrete at 130 Sunset Lane in Freeport, he had a zip tie tightly secured around his neck, and both of his legs were detached from his body.
“He had a zip tie around his neck very tightly and that his legs were cut off,” Investigator Mindy Shelton testified.
Zip ties came up repeatedly throughout the hearing. Investigators said four people they interviewed described Johnson as someone who would use zip ties as a weapon or to harm people.
One acquaintance, Sandra Leaverton — who was arrested for aiding Johnson — told investigators Johnson confessed to her, saying: “They found him. I did it. He’s naked. He’s zip-tied.” The state argued that the detail about Coulthart being naked was never released publicly, and only someone with firsthand knowledge of the crime would have known.
Another text message from Leaverton in reference to Johnson and Coulthart read: “yep, he’s calling out the monster, he needs to be careful because it has a new zip tie.”
A digital forensics investigator explained other text messages uncovered during the investigation, showing Coulthart texting Johnson on May 26 asking to come nap with her. His final text to her read simply “here.”
Investigators also brought up another key figure in the case: Matthew Sweeney. Sweeney told investigators that Johnson told him she placed a zip tie around Coulthart’s neck, buried him under concrete, and placed a black Cadillac on top of the grave so a dog couldn’t dig him up.
“She had told Mr. Sweeney that she had placed a zip tie around Jason’s neck, buried him under concrete, put a black Cadillac on top so the dog wouldn’t pick him up,” Investigator Chantel Roden testified.
A text message from Johnson to Sweeney on May 27 read: “I’m not trying to get a life sentence and that’s what I’ll get.”
Investigators also testified about a possible motive, saying the two had an intimate relationship. One acquaintance said Coulthart had been threatening Johnson over her children, saying he was going to go to the paternal grandfather of her children, though it was unclear about what.
Johnson’s attorney said Johnson claims Coulthart was sexually abusing her and coercing her to commit crimes. Investigators said they could not confirm whether those allegations were true.
The hearing concluded with brief arguments. The state said they believed they had proved to “a substantial likelihood” that Johnson had “done something bad” and would likely flee or become a risk if given bond. Johnson’s attorney argued she would not flee and could be placed on house arrest, adding that they would be “aggressively defending this case.”
In the end, the judge said he had 24 hours before he had to make an order and needed to deliberate before deciding.
Johnson, 38, faces an open count of murder in the death of Coulthart, a 43-year-old Niceville resident who was reported missing May 24. She was captured August 13 in Cottondale by the U.S. Marshals Task Force after 45 days on the run, and was extradited to Walton County the following day. Five people have been charged with accessory after the fact for helping Johnson evade law enforcement during that time.
Johnson is scheduled to return to court on November 19 for her pretrial hearing.
Originally reported by MyPanhandle (WMBB) and WJHG.
Image: WJHG.
