Joseph Johnson

Deceased – July 26, 2015 – Selma, AL

Dallas County

26-year-old Joseph Johnson was a young man with a bright future and loving family. He was known for his playful personality and ability to lift the spirits of those around him. His sudden and tragic death on July 26, 2015, left his family with a gaping hole in their lives and many unanswered questions.

The circumstances surrounding Joseph’s death are shrouded in mystery and conflicting accounts. According to his mother, Leighea, Joseph borrowed his father’s truck around 8:30 or 9:00 p.m. on July 25, 2015, to visit friends in Selma. Based on the information she’s received, Joseph and his friends had gone to Roger’s Lounge in Selma for several hours and were returning to one of the friend’s homes in the early morning hours of July 26, 2015. While on the way back, Joseph’s friend and his girlfriend got into an argument, and the girlfriend was dropped off at Gabe’s Store, a local convenience store less than a mile from the friend’s home. Joseph, who had fallen asleep in the car, woke up and realized the girlfriend was missing. Concerned for her safety, Joseph got out of the car to find her and was never seen alive again.

Around 2:30 or 3:00 a.m., Joseph’s body was found on a dark stretch of highwya near the intersection of County Road 209 and Highway 14, approximately a half-mile from the convenience store. Alabama state troopers believe that Joseph may have fallen asleep on or near the roadway and was struck by a vehicle traveling through the area. However, no one has come forward to claim responsibility for the accident, and investigators have no leads on what type of vehicle may hav ebeen involved.

Joseph’s family has been left with the devastating task of piecing together what happened that night and trying to find closure. Conflicting stories have circulated about the events leading up to Joseph’s death, leaving them with more questions than answers. How did Joseph end up so far past the convenience store and the road his friend lived on? And who is responsible for his death?

It’s important to acknowledge that the information we currently have about the events leading up to Joseph’s death may not be completely accurate. It’s possible that there are other individuals who hold vital information that could provide clarity and closure to Joseph’s family. We strongly encourage anyone with any information to come forward and speak with authorities, as even the smallest detail could make a significant difference in this case. Joseph’s family deserves to know the truth about what happened to their beloved son and brother.

You can hear more about Joseph’s case in Episode 9 of Unforgotten.