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JOHNSON, DONALD,
DOB 05-25-67, was sentenced to death on October 1, 1997 in Floyd
County for the stabbing death of Helen Madden.
Ms. Madden’s body was found on
11/30/89 at the Bright and Clean Laundry in Hazard where she was
employed. It was determined that she had also been sexually assaulted.
Johnson was arrested on 12/01/89 and
charged with murder, robbery and burglary. The charge of 1st Degree
Sexual Assault was added later.
This killer stabbed the 61-year-old victim 24 times in Floyd County in
1989. Before killing the victim, the killer mutilated her vagina and
rectum with a ball point pen, bit her several times, and them
disemboweled her with a knife.
Victim:
Helen Madden
Stumbo asks for
execution date for Helen Madden's killer
BreathittOnline.com
January 21, 2004
Attorney General Greg Stumbo is asking for an execution date to be set
for the man who pleaded guilty to the brutal murder of a 61-year-old
woman at a Hazard laundry mat in 1989. Donald Herb Johnson was
sentenced to death for the murder of Helen Madden.
On November 29, 1989, in Hazard, Johnson came Bright and Clean Laundry
and asked Madden if he could use the telephone. After Madden refused,
Johnson allegedly stabbed her at least 24 times, repeatedly bit her,
beat her beyond recognition and then disemboweled her. Johnson also
allegedly sexually assaulted Madden during the attack. Johnson then
allegedly went to a restaurant to have dinner directly after the
murder.
The case was transferred to Floyd Circuit Court
where Johnson pleaded guilty to capital murder, first-degree burglary,
first-degree robbery and two counts of first-degree sexual abuse. In
correspondence forwarded to Governor Ernie Fletcher, Stumbo requested
execution dates for Johnson and David Lee Sanders, who was convicted
of two counts of murder in Madison County in 1987. Stumbo requested
that Fletcher set the dates as soon as possible in order to carry out
the sentence imposed in each case.
Stumbo later
withdrew the request for Sanders' execution after learning an appeal
had already been filed in the case. "These were brutal and malicious
murders," Stumbo said "I have pledged in my new position to be tough
on criminals. By signing these orders, I am keeping that promise and
helping ensure the safety of Kentuckians." Fletcher has not released a
statement on how he plans to handle the death penalty request.
