Another Arrest in the Kyle Johnson Murder Case

On Wednesday the office of the Jefferson County State’s Attorney Sean Featherstun charged Misty D. Whipple, 43 of Mount Vernon, IL, with one count of Aiding a Fugitive for her role in the September 6, murder of Kyle M. Johnson.  Whipple was taken into custody by officers from the Mount Vernon, IL Police Department at approximately 1:00 p.m. on Thurday.

As it relates to the Aiding a Fugitive charge, a Class 4 Felony, Whipple, is alleged to have aided or assisted Rick Meador in fleeing from a warrant by renting a van used to transport Meador to Florida.

On September 6, at the intersection of North Walnut and East Laurel Street in Olney, Illinois. Johnson, a 19-year-old from Olney, IL, was found with multiple gunshot wounds and transported to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. 

Now five arrests have resulted in connection with this homicide - Rick A. Meador, an 18-year-old male of Olney, IL for First-Degree Murder and Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Murder, Tara N. Haws, a 33-year-old female of Olney, IL for First-Degree Murder by Accountability and Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Murder, Dale E. Boatman Jr., a 32-year-old male of Olney, IL for First-Degree Murder by Accountability and Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Murder all currently held at the Richland County Jail,  a 16-year-old female of Olney, IL for First-Degree Murder by Accountability and Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Murder currently held at the Franklin County Juvenile Detention Center , and now Misty D. Whipple, a 43-year-old female of Mount Vernon, IL for Aiding a Fugitive currently held at the Jefferson County Jail.

ISP DCI Zone 8 was assisted by the Olney Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Mount Vernon Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, ISP District 12 Patrol, ISP District 13 Patrol, and the United States Marshals in this investigation.