Prosecutor Seeks Death Penalty for Bentonville Women's Murders
Nicholas Johansen and Michael Winters will face the death penalty for killing Johansen's mother and grandmother last year.
Each man was charged with two counts of Capital Murder and two counts of Aggravated Robbery after the remains of Christina Bishop, 40, and Louise Bishop, 81, were found on Johansen's father's property near on Sugar Creek Road between Avoca and Garfield in February.
Benton County prosecuting attorney Van Stone said Monday his office is seeking the death penalty for both men, because of the severity of the crimes. Investigators believe Johansen and Winters robbed and strangled the women at Louise's Bentonville home before dumping the bodies.
If convicted, the men could be sentenced up to 40 years or life for each count of aggravated robbery and a sentence of life in prison or death for the murders.
According to court documents, Johansen's half-sister and Winters' girlfriend tipped police off about the bodies.
The women were last seen at a Sam's Club in Bentonville in June 2009 and were the subjects of an extensive search for several months.
Both men are currently being held in the Benton County Jail.
http://www.kfsm.com/news/kfsm-news-johansen-winters-death-penalty-sought,0,738717.story?track=rss
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