
DATE: Sunday, July 20, 1997                 TAG: 9707220163

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:  147 lines

UNSOLVED SLAYING SHAKES UP DARE LOCALS ARE WORRIED, BUT TOURISM HAS NOT BEEN AFFECTED.

When Jan Woolridge moved to the Outer Banks from Hopewell, Va., her mother was thrilled.

``My mom loves it because I live here,'' Woolridge, 40, says. ``I mean, this beach is crime-free.''

But last Sunday, in the pre-dawn hours, a homicide-arson hit the Outer Banks. Firefighters were called to a Norfolk Street house and found 33-year-old Denise Johnson slain.

``Things like this never happen here. I can't imagine anyone here doing this,'' Woolridge said.

Murder is rare in Dare County. Kill Devil Hills Police Chief Ray Davis can tell you how uncommon it is in his town off the top of his head.

``Six in 19 years,'' he says. ``The first one in two years.''

But this murder, of a popular waitress with a contagious smile, has hit close to home, too close for 29-year-old Melissa McLean.

``My porch light had burned out,'' McLean said. ``I asked my landlord to put another one in for me, and he knew I was concerned about what had happened. He put in one of those sensory lights so I wouldn't have to do anything to it.''

A new porch light, however, hasn't eased her concern.

``I haven't slept for the last three nights,'' McLean said. ``I hear noises outside my house all the time, branches brushing against the window. But now, it really bothers me.

``I don't want this to sound bad, but I hope it's someone who's not from here. I don't want to think about somebody from here doing something like that.''

Government officials, particularly those in the criminal justice system, understand the fears wrought by violent crime.

But they are quick to emphasize the reasons behind Dare County's low homicide rate.

``I'm a prosecutor, not a criminologist,'' Dare County Assistant District Attorney Robert Trivette said. ``But one of the reasons is that historically you're dealing with an isolated area that's an extremely close-knit community. But as the area's grown, we've seen an increase in the amount of crime.''

The fact that the Dare Outer Banks are a major tourism attraction may also be a factor.

``We have so many people who come here on vacation,'' said Trivette, who has been a prosecutor for seven years.

``There's a lot less stress. People are here to have a good time. They don't come here to commit a homicide.''

James Fox, dean of Northeastern University's College of Criminal Justice in Boston, Mass., has done research on every homicide committed in the United States during the past 20 years. In Dare County during that period, 18 murders have occurred, an average of less than one per year.

Sheriff A.L. ``Bert'' Austin, a native of Hatteras Island, says homicide is rare here because so many extended families live in the county.

``That does play a role in it,'' Austin said. ``From the time we're very young, we're taught a respect for life.''

In at least two cases, however, out-of-state visitors traveled here with murder on their minds.

In one of the most brutal crimes the county has seen, Douglas John Mont, a Delaware man, brought his three children to Dare County in February 1995.

He took them to the beach, then drove them to a nearby airstrip. Then, shot each of his children - ages 9, 6 and 4 - once in the head, then set his van on fire. He watched from a nearby thicket of trees as the van burned with his children inside.

The following day, as two officers approached, Mont shot himself in the head.

The murders were Kill Devil Hills' first since 1978. Police believe a domestic dispute was at the heart of the Mont murders.

And in 1992, a Maggie Valley man and his son were arrested in Canada in connection with the murder of their wife and mother. Her body was found near the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.

In most cases, the victims are acquainted with or have a relationship with their assailant.

``Overall, about 80 percent of all homicides involve individuals who know each other,'' Fox said. ``In rural areas, with populations of 25,000, that number increases to 85 percent.''

Fox said the choice of weapon can say something about a crime. For example, the use of a knife could indicate a more intimate relationship between victim and assailant.

And, the areas injured by the weapon could provide other indicators.

``The number of times the victim was stabbed, as well as the area of the wounds, could indicate that the murderer is vengeful.''

Rural homicides also have other general characteristics that set them apart from big-city killings.

``As we said, the victim is more likely to know the killer,'' Fox said. ``It's more often a family dispute or some kind of relationship matter between the victim and killer. Also, victims in rural areas are less likely to be killed in armed robberies or drug-related crimes.''

But statistics aside, the stabbing death seven days ago has rocked the community.

``People are shocked and outraged,'' said Dare County Commissioner Doug Langford.

``They're angry that something like this could happen to Denise, and they're outraged that this could happen in this gentle community.''

The incident, however, hasn't hindered Dare County's biggest business. Tourism is expected to generate $800 million for the local economy this year.

``This has had no impact on tourism,'' Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce Executive Director John Bone said Friday. ``This is a family beach. In Dare and Currituck counties, we have about 43,000 permanent residents. But during the summer, we have about 250,000 people. Those folks are moms and dads and children and Grandma and Grandpa. We don't attract the criminal element to our beaches.''

Meanwhile, Davis sought to calm the fears of women who work in the many restaurants and bars along the beach and U.S. 158 bypass.

``There's no cause for alarm,'' Davis said.

``This is an isolated incident.''

Donnie Varnell, special agent with the State Bureau of Investigation, said that every interview in the case generates more avenues for investigation.

``Every person we talk to generates two or three more leads,'' Varnell said. ``We're talking to people who come down here from Virginia every weekend after being gone during the week.''

Still, for McLean, the answer to who killed Johnson can't come soon enough. Though she is afraid, she will remain on the Outer Banks.

``This is home for me,'' McLean said.

``I work here. I go to school here. My mother lives here. This is a case of the world getting a little closer to us. But anywhere you go, things like this happen. You can't run away from it.'' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

Color photo

THE SLAYING

Denise Johnson, left, was found dead early last Sunday after

firefighters responded to a fire at her home. She had been stabbed

multiple times, and the fire is believed to have been arson. Her

body showed signs of assault.

HOMICIDE IN DARE COUNTY

There have been 18 killings in the past 20 years. Officials say

the crime rate is low because the area is relatively isolated, with

close-knit communities and extended families.

STATISTIC

85 PERCENT OF SLAYINGS IN RURAL AREAS INVOLVE PEOPLE WHO KNOW