Man who allegedly murdered Tricia McCauley drove around with her body for hours, documents say

By D.C. Witness Staff - April 14, 2017
Homicides | Suspects |

After Duane Johnson allegedly killed Tricia McCauley, he drove around Washington in her car, with her body hidden in the back.

According to police, Tricia McCauley went missing last year on Christmas. She was supposed to attend a Christmas Party and texted friends saying she was on her way, but she never arrived.

McCauley was reported missing the following day at which point police found a witness that said they saw McCauley getting into her car around the time the text messages were sent.

During their investigation, police learned of a robbery in which a 25-30 year-old black male, wearing black pants, black tennis shoes, a dark colored shirt and a black jacket stole 15 Dove soaps from a nearby CVS and fled the scene in McCauley’s car.

In the following days police released information about the case to the public. Soon after someone called in a tip stating they saw several black men in McCauley’s car at a CVS on M Street, NW.

Once on the scene police placed Johnson, 29, in handcuffs. Johnson immediately asked for a lawyer, but eventually spoke with police.

When asked about the woman who owned the car, he said they had sex.

Police noted that Johnson “spontaneously” asked, “If someone is suicidal and gives you all their stuff is that illegal?”

Officers later found McCauley in the backseat of her car wedged between the rear and the front seat. According to police, she was unconscious, unresponsive and “cold to the touch.” McCauley was pronounced dead on the scene.

Upon inspection, a medical examiner noted her legs were tied together at the calves with a seat belt, she had on black stockings torn above the knees to her waist as well as torn underwear.

McCauley had blunt force trauma to her back, ligature marks on her neck, bruising to her left hand, both legs as well as vaginal and anal tearing.

Her cause of death was ruled strangulation, blunt force trauma and multiple contusions.
Johnson told police he met McCauley while he was walking on the street. McCauley allegedly offered him a ride and then offered to have sex with him, Johnson said. They had sex, though Johnson could not say where specifically but it was at a “curb somewhere.”

According to Johnson after they had sex, McCauley became emotional and began to act like she was suicidal and eventually hung herself while Johnson was outside the car, though he couldn’t say what she hung herself with.

Johnson told police he then got in the car and proceeded to drive to different stores using McCauley’s credit cards. Along the way he also picked up a prostitute who drove around with him, all the while McCauley was in the backseat.

When asked why he drove around with McCauley in the backseat, Johnson said he “thought she was sleeping and might wake up.” He also told police that before killing herself McCauley told him he could have all of her belongings.

Johnson is being held without bond as he faces first-degree murder charges.

The defendant is expected in court August 8.