10:45 A.M.: James Johnson, Jr. charged with murder of Sherry Clark in Midland City; investigation ongoing

10:45 A.M., ENTERPRISE—At a press conference at the State Bureau of Investigation Office in Enterprise, investigators revealed more information about the murder of 57-year-old Sherry Clark in Dale County. 

James Albert Johnson, Jr., 29, was charged with murder and is being held without bond, according to Dale County Sheriff Mason Bynum. 

On November 10, Ozark-Dale County 911 dispatched a welfare check to the 300 block of County Road 79 around 8:20 a.m. A father was concerned his daughter had not shown up for work. 

Upon forcing their way inside, Midland City Police discovered Clark’s body. She had been bound and gagged, and she had severe traumatic injuries to her head and neck. An autopsy result is pending.

Investigators were able to use digital evidence and facial recognition software to determine Johnson as the suspect. 

Johnson had only been released from prison the previous Sunday in Florida for a distribution of a controlled substance charge. It’s currently unclear if Johnson had any substances in his system at the time of the murder.

His relatives were the next door neighbors of Clark, and Johnson was staying with them. 

While investigators said they do have a motive for the killing, they said they are keeping the motive quiet at the moment since the investigation is still ongoing. 

Clark’s relatives, her daughter, Jessica King; her sister, Rhonda Irwin; and her nephew, William Irwin; were at the press conference. 

Shelly Linderman from Wiregrass Angel House joined them to read a statement on behalf of the family. The family expressed their gratitude to investigators for making a swift arrest, and they said they wished for privacy while they grieve. 

"Sherry was a kind, loving mother, sister, daughter, and a grandmother who loved her family very much," Linderman said on behalf of the family. "She did nothing to deserve this."