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Man Charged With Murder After Victim’s Body Found In Vehicle Trunk On Highway 29 In Ensley
August 22, 2021
The body of a Crestview murder victim was found in the trunk of a vehicle on Highway 29 Saturday evening in Ensley, and the driver is now charged.
The Crestview Police Department has charged 37 year old Johnny Lee Akins, Jr. with murder in connection with an incident that occurred on East Walnut yesterday.
During the incident, Johnny Akins shot and killed a 42 year old male victim that was later identified as James D. Matthews of Holt.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to Highway 29 near the Murphy Oil gas station. “They arrived to find a black male in a state of excited delirium”, according to Sgt. Melanie Peterson. The man was taken into custody a short distance away near Game Stop in the shopping center in front of Walmart and transported to a local hospital.
“He was transported to the hospital after they got control of him,” she said. “They ran the tag, and the vehicle came back that the owner of the car was suspected in a homicide out of Crestview.”
She said there were drugs in plain view “everywhere” on the seat of the car. As part of the inventory process before seizing the vehicle, the trunk was opened.
“There was a dead body there in the trunk,” Peterson said.
The investigation into the incident is continuing by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Crestview Police, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
9 Responses to “Man Charged With Murder After Victim’s Body Found In Vehicle Trunk On Highway 29 In Ensley”
@ Heaven…my prayers are with you and your family during this sad time… I agree with the others on here as far as types of punishment that this murder should receive…
My prayers are with the first responders who had to do this job
Take the TRASH to the can!….Don’t waste my tax money keeping him in prison….outta here for good!
@ Heaven – Sorry you are dealing with the death of your brother. Most people lose a loved one due to natural causes or from an extended illness. Many do not understand all the complexities of a loss from a murder. Murder has its own deeper level of denial and shock. The event is unbelievable, unexpected, tragic and a crime, all at once. You may feel anger longer and deeper than from other deaths. Prayers!
May God’s hands heal the family, friends and co-workers of Mr. Matthews. R I P Mr. Matthews !
As for Johnny Akins – your day is coming for being a bloody-minded, cold hearted, evil individual. You’re lucky to have lived this long without having a bullet between your eyes.
I’m from Holt and I know of the man that did this…wish there was more info on the victim so people could reach out to the victims family
This was my brother and I’m in so much pain from this. Nobody deserves to be done this way. He had a heart bigger than most, he would give the shirt off his back, give you his last dollar, last meal, and put others first before himself. If you knew Dewey, you know this is true. This was an act that had left me and my family permanently damaged. I would personally like to think all officials who have helped in this case.
This man tried to enter my vehicle on the backseat passengers side, while I was on my break in my car at work. Thankfully my doors were locked, but this article is accurate. The man was definitely on something, so I’m not surprised that they found drugs. Cops tackled him right by my vehicle. Still shaken up from everything.
Your story is more comprehensive and detailed than the one on the WEAR site. Also, they report there was a fire, and there is no mention of that in your story. THANKS for accurately and clearly reporting the news for us!
Horrible for all involved. I am thinking of the LEOs who have to deal with these situations. Any one who questions the difficulty of their duty is not paying attention. Too many scumbags among us.
Thanks for reporting this update . I was just passing thru around 8:45 p.m. road was blocked traffic was detoured in the inside lanes of HWY 29. I was trying figure out what was going on.