Female Juvenile Charged in Olney Murder Case

A third person has been charged in connection with a murder in Olney early in September.

A 16-year-old female from Olney, who had been listed as missing and endangered in connection with the shooting death of 19-year-old Kyle M. Johnson of Olney, was arrested late Wednesday afternoon. The female was located with 18-year-old Rick Meador of Olney Wednesday in Florida after they had been sought for more than three weeks following the shooting. At the time Meador was arrested Wednesday, the juvenile was taken into protective custody at the Emerald Coast Children's Advocacy Center.

Later Wednesday, Richland County State's Attorney Charles Bradley Vaughn issued an arrest warrant for the juvenile for first degree murder by accountability. The juvenile is being held in the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Center in Crestview, Florida, awaiting extradition to Illinois.

In addition to Meador and the juvenile, 33-year-old Tara Haws of Olney has been charged in the shooting death with first degree murder by accountability. 

Meador is a former Effingham resident.

(MEADOR)

On September 6, Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 8 officials were requested by the Olney Police Department to assist with a homicide investigation at the intersection of Walnut and Laurel Streets in Olney. An adult male, later identified as Johnson, was found with multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to an area hospital where he later died from his wounds.

DCI Zone 8 was assisted by the Olney Police Department, Richland County Sheriff's Department, Mt. Vernon Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff's Department, ISP District 12 Patrol, ISP District 13 Patrol, and the US Marshal's Service in the investigation.