‘Bloody footprints’ led to mom’s body, and her son is the suspect, FL police say

A welfare check at a Florida home turned horrific when a family followed bloody footprints to their mom’s body, according to investigators.

Rosemary Johnson, 69, died after suffering “a significant number of stab wounds to her head and neck,” and it’s her son who has been charged, the Cape Coral Police Department said in a Sept. 18 news release.

The woman’s bodywas discovered around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 16, police said.

“Family members said they had been trying to get ahold of their mother and were unable to reach her, so they drove to (her) house, went in, observed bloody foot prints, and located their mother’s body,” police said.

“A neighborhood canvass led to the discovery that the decedent’s son, later identified as Devin Bryant Johnson (28) was observed leaving the home in a 2019 gray Toyota Corolla shortly before police arrived on scene. ... Family members told detectives Johnson had a documented history of domestic violence and substance abuse.”

It was also discovered that “Johnson had purchased a plane ticket to Costa Rica that day,” police said.

An air search by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office found Johnson’s vehicle, and it was pursued to Naples, about a 45-mile drive south from Cape Coral.

Johnson jumped out and ran when the car’s tires were punctured, resulting in a foot chase and “aggressive resistance” when cornered, police said.

“While trying to put cuffs on Johnson, he struck the K9 multiple times, and attempted to take an officer’s firearm,” police said.

“The vehicle driven by Johnson was seized by law enforcement and officers noted the presence of blood on the exterior and interior. Johnson’s shoes also had noticeable blood on them.”

Charges filed in the case include second-degree murder, fleeing and eluding law enforcement, battery on law enforcement, attempting to take a law enforcement officer’s firearm, and animal cruelty, police said.

Details of a motive have not been released.

Cape Coral is about a 135-mile drive south from Tampa.

This story was originally published September 19, 2025 at 11:02 AM with the headline "‘Bloody footprints’ led to mom’s body, and her son is the suspect, FL police say."