Press Releases:
December 2, 2016 - Convicted Murderer of 3-Year-Old Denied Parole for 7 Years
November 22, 2016 - Convicted Murderer of Toddler May Be Paroled Next Week Due to “Missing” Opposition Letters
October 24, 2016 - Mother of Murdered Toddler Worried About Prop 57
September 18, 2016 - Convicted Murderer of 3-Year-Old May be Granted Parole by Christmas
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PRESS RELEASE - DECEMBER 2, 2016
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For Immediate Release
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Convicted Murderer of 3-Year-Old Denied Parole for 7 Years
Norwalk, CA, November 30, 2016 – The killer of three-year-old Brittany Lynn Rethorn-Riggs was again denied parole for a period of 7 years. Chuck Johnson, who was convicted of first degree murder for suffocating and strangling young Brittany and then hiding her body in his closet, has served 20 years of his 25-to-life sentence.
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The autopsy showed that little Brittany struggled for her life while Johnson suffocated her with her own baby blanket as he put pressure on her neck and chest, strangling her. The coroner testified at trial that it took at least 2-3 minutes of sustained pressure to kill Brittany. Brittany Lynn’s parents stoically pointed out the multiple wounds to her head, neck and chest in the autopsy photos.
Johnson told the parole board that he “accidentally” hit Brittany’s head in the doorway of his bedroom, then held her mouth so she wouldn’t cry out. He then hid her in the closet.
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The parole board determined that Johnson’s story was not credible as it did not match the physical evidence and denied him parole for another 7 years.
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Johnson had a history of domestic violence, which was unknown Jennifer Rethorn Lundy and Darin Riggs, Brittany Lynn’s parents, when they rented him a room in their home. Lundy and Riggs along with many other family members gave victim impact statements to the parole board with Johnson sitting just feet away in a small conference room. Each described their experience with Johnson, the morning that little Brittany went missing, and the lifelong impact her death has had on each of them.
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One of the most compelling statements was given by Sargent Robert Kelly, who 23 years ago was the young officer who found little Brittany Lynn in Chuck Johnson’s closet after responding to a missing child report. He told the parole board that he found Brittany Lynn hidden under a pile of clothing and a tool box, with a plastic bag contoured to her face as she took her last breath, her body still warm. He held her close to comfort her and gave mouth-to-mouth as he and another officer rushed her to the hospital where Brittany was pronounced dead a short time later. Officer Kelly, with tears in his eyes, told the parole board that he is still haunted by his experience and expressed regret for not finding her sooner.
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In sharp contrast, Chuck Johnson failed to express any regret for Brttany Lynn’s murder. He instead blamed his actions on drug use and it being an “accident.”
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Jennifer Lundy and Darin Riggs garnered the support of almost 2,000 community members to block Johnson’s parole via opposition letters and a Change.org petition and is grateful for the support.
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“A lot of people helped keep Johnson behind bars,” stated Lundy.
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But, she will not rest knowing that Johnson will eventually be let out. She is already working on creating a “murderer registry” to mirror the Megan’s Law for sexual offenders.
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“The public can track those convicted of sexual assault, but a child murder can move next door to a family with children, and they have no way of knowing,” stated Lundy.
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Lundy will provide information and updates on the Murder Registry on her website: www.JusticeForBrittanyLynn.com.
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PRESS RELEASE - NOVEMBER 22, 2016
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Convicted Murderer of Toddler May Be Paroled Next Week Due to “Missing” Opposition Letters
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Norwalk, CA, November 22, 2016 – Letters from law enforcement, victim’s rights advocates, the community (including over 1000 petition signatures) and the family of murdered 3-year-old Brittany Lynn have all been mysteriously excluded from information provided to the California Parole Board. The absence of these letters and signatures allows the Parole Board to grant release of this convicted murder whose parole hearing is next week, on November 30th.
Three-year-old Brittany Lynn Rethorn-Riggs was found strangled and suffocated in a closet under a pile of clothing in her own home. Chuck Johnson, a tenant, was convicted of first degree murder of the toddler.
Jennifer Rethorn Lundy has worked for several months to obtain over 1600 signatures on a petition to block Johnson’s parole. Over 100 letters from individuals and organizations throughout the country were also sent to the California Board of Prisons in Sacramento by the deadline several weeks ago which are supposed to be forwarded to the Parole Board members. Not one letter or signature is accounted for in the file. However, the file does contain a few letters of support for Johnson.
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Lundy is worried that the Parole Board will not consider the opposition letters and signatures due to the prisoner’s rights to obtain all opposition letters at least 10 days before the parole hearing.
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“Without a record of all of these letters of opposition, the Parole Board can easily release prisoners,” said Lundy. She wonders if this is in keeping with Governor Brown’s vow to release more prisoners.
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Lundy is again asking for the public’s help – this time to sign a petition to allow all of the letters and signatures originally sent by the deadline to be considered in the parole decision. She has created a new petition on Change.org which can be linked from the website www.JusticeForBrittanyLynn.com.
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It was on the morning of October 10, 1993 when Jennifer Rethorn and Darin Riggs, awoke to a loud noise in their Montclair home. Knowing that 3-year-old Brittany Lynn loved to play with her mother’s make up, they assumed that something had fallen as she rummaged through the cupboards. When they couldn’t locate her in the house, her parents immediately called 911 and sent friends and neighbors to search the neighborhood.
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They didn’t know that Brittany Lynn’s body lay in the closet of their tenant, Chuck Johnson.
When police arrived, they performed a search of the house. An officer entered Johnson’s room and removed a tool box from a large pile of clothing inside his closet.
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“I saw a part of a leg,” Officer Robert Kelly testified. “I was really hoping it was a doll’s leg....”
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It wasn’t a doll. It was Brittany Lynn, lying unconscious, face up with a plastic bag covering her face and a tie around her neck.
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The Chief Medical Examiner testified at trial that it took 2 ½ to 3 minutes to suffocate Brittany Lynn. In a dramatic demonstration in front of a stunned courtroom, the District Attorney held her hand over a doll’s mouth with a timer ticking away each second that Brittany Lynn struggled for her life. The jury found 26-year-old Johnson guilty of first degree murder.
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In the pre-sentencing report, probation officers determined that Johnson was an “exceedingly dangerous individual” and stated “there is a likelihood that if not imprisoned, the defendant will be a danger to others.” They also determined that the murder involved “a high degree of cruelty, viciousness and callousness” and his criminal arrest record indicated an “increasingly serious criminal conduct” referring to a history of domestic violence, battery, and probation violations.
“I fear he will hurt or kill another child if released,” stated Lundy.
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PRESS RELEASE - OCT 24, 2016
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For Immediate Release
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Mother of Murdered Toddler Worried About Prop 57
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Norwalk, Ca – Jennifer Rethorn Lundy, the mother of a toddler found dead in her own home, wants the community to understand the effects of Prop 57. According to “Stop 57,” if this proposition passes, it will:
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Authorize state government bureaucrats to reduce many sentences for “good behavior” even for inmates convicted of murder, rape, child molestation and human trafficking.
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Likely result in higher crime rates as at least 16,000 dangerous criminals would be eligible for early release.
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Permit the worst career criminals to be treated the same as first-time offenders, discounting strong sentences imposed by a judge.
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Effectively overturn key provisions of Marsy’s Law, Victims’ Bill of Rights
Lundy knows all too well the effects of such laws.
Prior to killing little Brittany Lynn, Chuck Johnson was charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon. But Johnson avoided prison when the charge was reduced to misdemeanor assault. Instead, he received probation and court-ordered anger management classes which he never attended. This probation violation went unnoticed by law enforcement.
Just months later he strangled and suffocated 3-year-old daughter Brittany Lynn, and hid her in his closet under a pile of clothing while her parents frantically searched for their missing child.
Lundy says, “If the original assault charges weren’t reduced, Brittany Lynn would still be alive.”
Lundy is worried that the laws are making it easier for criminals like Johnson to be given probation rather than serving time. They also lessen prison time for violent offenders. Johnson is up for parole on November 30th, after serving 23 years of his 25-to-life sentence.
“I fear he will hurt or kill another child if released,” stated Lundy.
Lundy has obtained over 1,000 signatures on a Change.org petition block Johnson’s parole. She’s asking for help to obtain more signatures as well as letters to the parole board in advance of the hearing. All letters must be postmarked by October 30th. For more information, go to: www.JusticeForBrittanyLynn.com.
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PRESS RELEASE - SEPTEMBER 18, 2016
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For Immediate Release
Convicted Murderer of 3-Year-Old May be Granted Parole by Christmas
Norwalk, CA, September 18, 2016 - Three-year-old Brittany Lynn Rethorn-Riggs was found strangled and suffocated in a closet under a pile of clothing – in her own home. Her convicted killer, Chuck Johnson, is up for parole in November after serving 23 years of his 25-to-life sentence. If released, Johnson can choose to live near a school and obtain a job working with children since he is not a registered sex offender.
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Brittany Lynn’s family is seeking the help of the community to block the release of this violent criminal.
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Brittany Lynn’s parents, Jennifer Rethorn and Darin Riggs, awoke to a loud noise the morning of October 10, 1993 in their Montclair home. Knowing that Brittany Lynn loved to play with her mother’s make up, they assumed that something had fallen as she rummaged through the cupboards. When they couldn’t locate her in the house, her parents immediately called 911 and sent friends and neighbors to search the neighborhood.
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They didn’t know that Brittany Lynn’s body lay in the closet of their tenant – Chuck Johnson.
Johnson, a friend’s co-worker, had asked for a place to stay as he separated from his wife. Brittany Lynn’s parents offered Johnson a room for rent for a few weeks, not knowing of his criminal history of child endangerment and violence against women.
When police arrived, they performed a search of the house. An officer entered Johnson’s room and removed a tool box from a large pile of clothing inside his closet.
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“I saw a part of a leg,” Officer Robert Kelly testified. “I was really hoping it was a doll’s leg....”
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It wasn’t a doll. It was Brittany Lynn, lying unconscious, face up with a plastic bag covering her face and a tie around her neck.
Officer Kelly and others on the scene rushed her lifeless body to the hospital. Brittany Lynn was pronounced dead less than an hour after her parents’ frantic 911 call reporting her missing.
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The Chief Medical Examiner testified at trial that it took 2 ½ to 3 minutes to suffocate Brittany Lynn. In a dramatic demonstration in front of a stunned courtroom, the District Attorney held her hand over a doll’s mouth with a timer ticking away each second that Brittany Lynn struggled for her life. In November 1995, two years after the crime, 26-year-old Johnson was found guilty of first degree murder.
In the pre-sentencing report, probation officers determined that Johnson was an “exceedingly dangerous individual” and stated “there is a likelihood that if not imprisoned, the defendant will be a danger to others.” They also determined that the murder involved “a high degree of cruelty, viciousness and callousness” and his criminal arrest record indicated an “increasingly serious criminal conduct.” He was sentenced to 25-years-to-life in prison.
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“My life has changed forever,” said Jennifer Rethorn Lundy, Brittany Lynn’s mother. “Even 23 years later, the impact on our lives has been devastating. My children have a big sister they never got to meet.”
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In 2009, Johnson was denied parole for a period of 7 years – until November 2016. He could be granted parole by Christmas.
“I fear he will hurt or kill another child if released,” stated Lundy.
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Lundy is asking for the community to help block Johnson’s parole by signing a petition on Change.org and sending letters and emails to the parole board in advance of the hearing. For more information, go to: www.JusticeForBrittanyLynn.com. All letters must be received by October 30th.
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MEDIA INTERVIEWS
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To get the word out about our petition and letter-writing campaign, we have contacted the media. We have been interviewed by the following television and radio stations:
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December 2, 2016
Whittier Daily News, Beatriz Valenzuela
Why a Norwalk mother of a murdered girl is heaving a sigh of relief
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November 28, 2016
NBC television interview with Gordon Tokumatsu
"Mother Braces for Fight Against Parole For Her Daughter's Killer"
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September 20, 2016
KABC Talk Radio - radio interview and video with James Rojas
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September 19, 2016
KCAL 9 / CBS 2 television news story - Tom Wait
"Norwalk Family Urging Parole Board Not To Release Convicted Child Killer"
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September 19, 2016
John and Ken Show, KFI640 AM - Talk Radio
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