SEMMES, AL – A father in Alabama is grappling with an unimaginable tragedy after his estranged wife killed their two young children before taking her own life. Derek Johnson, who was embroiled in a bitter custody dispute with his wife, discovered the horrifying scene at their family home in Semmes, a town located 20 miles west of Mobile, on September 28.
Johnson, 33, had been living in an RV on the property as part of their separation agreement. He returned to the house after noticing an eerie silence that morning, a stark contrast to the usual sounds of his children playing. Upon entering the house, he found his children, Jacob, 2, and Mia, 5, lifeless and covered in blankets. His wife, 37-year-old Nancy Johnson, was found hanged in a closet.
Investigators later informed Johnson that his wife had drowned their children in a bathtub. His daughter had also suffered a cut to her throat. Johnson was left reeling from the shock, his life shattered by the loss of his children and the horrific actions of his wife.
The couple’s relationship had been strained since the previous Christmas when Nancy unexpectedly asked for a divorce. Johnson moved back to Washington to work as a maintenance mechanic for Boeing, agreeing to pay child support and alimony. However, Nancy’s behavior became increasingly erratic, leading to Johnson filing for emergency custody, which he was granted.
Despite the tumultuous relationship, Johnson agreed to a nesting agreement following a court hearing on September 20. The arrangement allowed each parent to live with the children in the family home on alternate weeks, while the other stayed in the RV. Johnson now believes that his wife planned to kill their children as soon as the shared custody was ordered.
Johnson, who is not a suspect in the case, has since moved back into the family home after members of his church helped clean up the crime scene. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to assist him with funeral costs.