Webster County Case #16-0677

Donald E. Preston: Homicide Investigation

On December 26^th, 2016 Deputies from the Webster County Sheriffs Office were called to the area on Johnson Avenue and 225^th Street in rural Webster County, for the report of and black male laying in a field. When Deputies arrived they discovered the deceased body of Donald E. Preston, D.O.B. 10/14/1965 laying in a bean field and evidence at the scene indicated that his death was suspicious. Detectives from the Webster County Sheriffs Office and Agents with the Division of Criminal Investigation were notified and began to process the scene, gather evidence, and began a lengthy investigation into the death of Mr. Preston.

Since the initial call on December 26^lh 2016, Detectives and Agents have followed up numerous leads, conducted numerous interviews and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Crime Lab has processed all evidence collected during this investigation in a combined effort to identify and prosecute the individual responsible for this Homicide.

On Thursday February 2, 2023, Christopher Todd Johnson, D.O.B. 01/20/1974 was arrested on the criminal charge of Murder in the first degree, a Class A Felony. The criminal complaint against Mr. Johnson states:

"On or about December 20^th, 2016 Christopher Todd Johnson, did commit murder in the 1^st degree by willfully, deliberately, and with premeditation shot and killed Donald Edward Preston. Johnson and Preston were together in Johnson's Toyota Corolla. Johnson drove Preston around on gravel roads in rural Webster County, Iowa. Johnson showed Preston his handgun and Johnson shot the handgun. With malice aforethought, Preston was subsequently shot and killed by Johnson, with Johnson's handgun. Preston was left dead in a field in rural Webster County, Iowa. Preston's autopsy determined that he died of gunshot wounds to the head and abdomen."

Mr. Johnson was arrested at in Cedar Rapids after being released from the Federal Bureau of Prisons, after serving approximately 5 years in custody for Possessing a Firearm as a Prohibited Person charge, that he plead guilty to in 2018. Mr. Johnson is now in the Webster County Jail on a one million dollar cash bond and is scheduled to make his initial appearance on Friday February 3^rd 2023 at 9:00 AM in Webster County Magistrate Court.

Mr. Johnson is considered innocent of this charge until found guilty in a court of law.

The Webster County Sheriffs Office was assisted in this investigation by Division of Criminal Investigation, the Iowa State Patrol, the Fort Dodge Police Department, the Webster County Attorney's Office and the Iowa Attorney General's Office.

Luke M. Fleener
Webster County Sheriff