Tipster says he's relieved in aftermath of arrests

Saturday, May 14th 2005, 11:46 am

By: News On 6

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) _ The tipster who helped break the case of a 3-year-old girl whose headless body was found in Kansas City four years ago says he is relieved that arrests have finally been made.

Michelle Johnson, 30, and Harrell Johnson, 25, both of Muskogee, each face charges of second-degree murder and endangering the welfare of a child in the slaying of Erica Michelle Marie Green, who was known as Precious Doe before she was identified May 5.

The Johnsons were brought to Kansas City, Mo., after waiving extradition from Oklahoma. They've confessed to their involvement in the child's death, authorities say.

The tipster, who had initially asked that his name not be released publicly, spoke to the Muskogee Phoenix for a story Friday.

Thurmon McIntosh, 81, of Muskogee, Harrell Johnson's grandfather, had been in contact with Kansas City police for a year, telling them he knew the identity of Precious Doe. The arrests were finally made after he provided hair samples from Michelle Johnson.

Police have acknowledged they might have identified the beheaded girl sooner if they had done a better job of following up on the tips.

McIntosh told the newspaper he feels better now that arrests have been made.

``I'm proud of it _ I got it off my heart,'' McIntosh said. ``Now, I sleep at night.''

McIntosh said he first began to suspect Precious Doe was his grandson's stepdaughter after hearing bits of conversation from Michelle Johnson, the child's mother, sometime before April 2004.

McIntosh said letters his grandson wrote from prison to Michelle Johnson reinforced his suspicions.

``He was mentioning something in the letters he was concerned about,'' McIntosh said of the letters, which Michelle Johnson let him read. ``I was wanting to know what my grandson was so sorry about. She (Michelle) knew something on my grandson that would give him life in prison.''

Between the bits of conversations and the letters, McIntosh said he began to figure it out.

``I thought about it for a hundred times before I put two and two together,'' McIntosh said.

McIntosh said that once he finally connected his grandson and his grandson's wife to the Precious Doe murder, and figured that Precious Doe was Erica, he said he ``went to work on it'' and confronted his grandson.

``When he got out of prison, I found out it was really true,'' McIntosh said. ``I jumped him the first day he got out of prison.''

McIntosh said his grandson couldn't bear his questioning.

``I just eat him up. I ate him up so fast, he came out of the back seat and went to the car where Michelle was and asked her: 'Why did you tell grandpa?'''

McIntosh said his grandson didn't ever say a word to him about it.

``I knew he was guilty of what I was telling him - he could tell that.''

McIntosh said he believes it was his duty to report his grandson and said he doesn't regret doing so, even though ``he's my blood grandson.''

``I don't hate him. I hate what he did,'' McIntosh said. ``That's what cut me. That will carry me to my grave.''

When asked what he believes would be a fitting punishment for his grandson and Michelle Johnson, McIntosh didn't hesitate.

``You do the crime, you do the time,'' McIntosh said. ``That's my statement.''