Johnson was last seen in Tulsa, Oklahoma on September 11, 2008. He spoke to his wife on the phone at 11:00 p.m. and said he was going to tow a vehicle with his wrecker and he'd be home soon. Johnson owned an auto dealership, Straight Up Auto Sales in the 6000 block of north Peoria Avenue. He was last seen at 11:30 p.m., driving the white 2000 Chevrolet Impala he'd just acquired. The vehicle was a former police patrol car and still had police decals, sirens and lights on it.

When Johnson didn't arrive home, his wife went to the dealership and saw the Impala in the locked car lot. The car had a strong odor of bleach. A baseball hat and one of Johnson's shoes, possibly bloodstained, were in the trunk, which also smelled like bleach. The vehicle was unlocked with the window rolled down; it would be uncharacteristic of Johnson to leave it in that condition. There was no sign of him at the scene.

Johnson has six children. He's described as a workaholic, and it's uncharacteristic of him to leave without warning. Foul play is suspected in his case, which remains unsolved.