Milton Johnson

{{For|the chairman and CEO of Hospital Corporation of America|R. Milton Johnson}}

{{Infobox criminal

| name = Milton Johnson

| image = Milton Johnson (serial killer).png

| image_size =

| caption = Illinois Dept. of Corrections inmate photo

| alias = The Morning murderer
The Weekend murderer

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1950|5|15|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Joliet, Illinois, United States{{Cite web |url=http://www.crimezzz.net/serialkillers/J/JOHNSON_milton.php |title=Serial killer true crime library * serial killer news * list of serial killers * serial murder * female serial killers * crime scene investigation * tueur en serie * omicidi seriali |access-date=2012-06-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812015203/http://www.crimezzz.net/serialkillers/J/JOHNSON_milton.php |archive-date=2016-08-12 |url-status=dead }}

| death_date = {{death date and age|2025|5|16|1950|5|15}}

| death_place = Randolph County, Illinois, United States

| conviction = Murder (5 counts)
Attempted murder
Rape (2 counts)
Deviate sexual assault
Burglary
Aggravated battery

| victims = 5-14

| penalty = Death; commuted to life imprisonment

| imprisoned = Menard Correctional Center

| beginyear = June 25

| endyear = August 25, 1983

| apprehended = March 9, 1984

}}

Milton Johnson (May 15, 1950 – May 16, 2025), known as The Weekend Murderer, was an American serial killer and mass murderer who was believed to have committed up to 14 murders that occurred in Will County, Illinois during the summer of 1983.{{cite news|last=Ferak|first=John|date=August 19, 2023|orig-date=August 18, 2023|url=https://patch.com/illinois/joliet/40-years-ago-ceramic-shop-murders-terrorized-joliet|title=Ceramic Shop Murders Terrorized Joliet: 40 Years Ago|website=Patch.com|location=Joliet, Illinois|publisher=Patch Media|access-date=December 18, 2024}} Two of the victims were police officers. Johnson had been on parole for aggravated battery, burglary, and rape at the time of the murders, and had been imprisoned from 1970 to 1983.{{Cite web |title=People v. Johnson |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/illinois/supreme-court/1987/63024-7.html |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=Justia Law |language=en}}

Victims

Milton Johnson was linked to the following murders.{{cite web |last1=Ferak |first1=John |title=Joliet Mass Murderer Terrorized Area 35 Years Ago |url=https://patch.com/illinois/joliet/joliet-mass-murderer-terrorized-area-35-years-ago |website=Patch |access-date=May 14, 2023 |date=July 23, 2019}}

Zita Blum, 66 - June 25, 1983
Honora Lahmann (Blum's sister), 67 - June 25, 1983
Kenneth Chancellor, 34- July 2, 1983
Terri Lynn Johnson, 19 - July 2, 1983
George Kiehl, 24 - July 16, 1983
Cathleen Norwood, 25 - July 16, 1983
Richard Paulin, 32 - July 16, 1983
Denis Foley, 50 - July 16, 1983
Steven Mayer, 22 - July 16, 1983{{efn|Foley and Mayer were Will County Auxiliary Deputys}}
Anthony Hackett, 18 - July 17, 1983
Marilyn Baers, 45 - August 20, 1983
Barbara Dunbar, 38 - August 20, 1983
Anna Ryan, 75 - August 20, 1983
Pamela Ryan, 25 - August 20, 1983

Of these murders, Johnson was convicted of killing Hackett, Baers, Dunbar and the Ryans. The latter four victims were killed at the Greenware by Merry Ceramic shop.{{cite web|url=https://law.justia.com/cases/illinois/supreme-court/1986/60826-7.html|title=People v. Johnson (1986)|website=Justia}}{{cite web|url=https://law.justia.com/cases/illinois/supreme-court/1987/63024-7.html|title=People v. Johnson (1987)|website=Justia}}

Death

Johnson died in prison on May 16th, 2025, one day after his 75th birthday. {{Cite web |url=https://patch.com/illinois/joliet/joliet-serial-killer-milton-johnson-dies-after-his-75th-birthday |title=Joliet's Notorious Serial Killer Milton Johnson Dies At Age 75, Funeral Planned In Joliet |access-date=2025-05-17}}

== Notes ==