The Murder of Kate Johnson

For this case, I watched an episode of The Wonderland Murders. It’s season 1 episode 3, titled ‘Everybody’s Daughter.’

A young college student is found dead in her dorm room.

Background

Catherine Mary Helene Johnson was born on April 25, 1980. In 2001, Kate Johnson attended the University of Portland. She started off as pre-med but told her mom that it wasn’t for her. She then decided to combine music and education. Kate was a devout Catholic and was very connected to her faith.

During her junior and senior years of college, Kate lived in Mehling Hall, which was about 8 floors. She also worked as a building manager in the dorm. By May 2001, she was one of a few students who lived there. Most of the students had left for summer break.

On May 22, Kate went out with her friends for her 21st birthday. Kate wasn’t into the party scene and was at home by midnight. A few days later, Kate was dead.

The Discovery

On May 29, Kate didn’t show up to eat with her friends in the dining hall. Her friend went to check on her in her dorm room and made a horrifying discovery.

Kate’s friend ran to get help from campus security. On the 911 call, the caller described Kate as being completely cold and looking purple. It was clear that Kate was dead.

Kate’s room had been unlocked, so there was no sign of forced entry. Kate had been found nude, so the police’s first thought was that it was a sexual assault.

There was bleach found at the scene. A towel with some hairs rolled into it was also found. It was clear that the killer had attempted to clean up.

The medical examiner had found some marks on Kate’s wrists. He identified them as being from handcuffs. He also ruled the cause of death as strangulation. The killer had left behind his DNA on a pillowcase. Hundreds of items from Kate’s small dorm room had been collected and tested.

A List of Suspects

The police learned that several other female students had reported break-ins in their dorm rooms. It was believed that a key had been used as there had been no forced entry. Each of the students reported that pieces of their jewelry had been taken. There had been no forced entry into Kate’s room either.

Kate had been handcuffed, so security guards around the campus became suspects. They provided DNA and were all ruled out.

While searching the dorm room, the police found Kate’s journal. She had written some entries about a man that she may have been interested in. A lot of the entries were about her faith and what she believed.

Kate had written about a man that she had met about a year earlier. He was a foreign exchange student who had left to return home. Kate’s mom said The man was out of the country at the time of Kate’s death.

A local priest became a suspect too. He had left the country shortly after Kate’s death. However, he returned to provide a DNA sample and was ruled out.

The Incident

On the day that Kate’s body was found, a group of males were playing poker near the dorm. Their DNA wasn’t collected at the beginning of the investigation, so they were contacted by the police.

The police were stunned to learn that one of the samples from these men came back as a match. The DNA came back as belonging to Deniz Aydiner. Deniz was from Turkey and had been married at the time.

The police were excited about the DNA sample but were crushed to learn that Deniz had been on his way back to Turkey. However, his wife had just filed for him to return to the U.S. on a new Visa. They had to wait until he returned to Portland.

On January 16, 2006, Deniz arrived back in Portland. The police also learned that Kate had a run-in with Deniz on a night out. Deniz didn’t like that Kate had stood up to him.

The Plea Deal

On January 16, 2006, Deniz was met at the airport by immigration. He was told that his paperwork needed to be checked. He was then escorted into a room and met by the police.

A warrant was executed on his house. A pair of handcuffs were found in Deniz’s bedroom closet. They also found the jewelry that had been stolen during the break-ins.

Deniz was offered a plea deal. If he pled guilty, he’d be eligible for parole in 37 years. Kate’s mom, Edie was notified about the plea deal. She accepted but said she wanted to meet with Deniz one on one.

It’s believed that Deniz had followed Kate, and learned where she lived. He was able to get a master key from a friend that worked in campus security. He entered her apartment and attacked her.

Edie told Deniz that she forgave him. She also wanted to know why. Deniz never gave her complete answers.

Deniz accepted the plea deal and will be eligible for parole after 37 years.

His 2019 appeal was denied.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I have covered too many cases where a man has been able to obtain a key to a dorm room or apartment and enter without the victim’s knowledge. It’s terrifying to think about. My heart truly goes out to Kate’s mom, Edie. She, along with the police didn’t give up until they found out what happened to Kate.

Sources

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/176308317/catherine_mary-helene-johnson

https://thecinemaholic.com/who-killed-kate-johnson-how-did-she-die-where-is-deniz-aydiner-now/

https://www.wweek.com/portland/article-980-the-murder-at-mehling-hall.html

https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2009/05/court_rejects_turkish_mans_app.html