Police continue search for woman's killer

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By Ty Tagami

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta police continued to search Friday for the killer of a single mother who was found dead by her children when they came home from school.

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Yolanda Johnson, 35, was stabbed four or five times in an apartment near Georgia Tech. She was found partially clothed on the bathroom floor, police said.

Elissa Eubanks, eeubanks@ajc.com Yolanda Johnson, 35, was stabbed four or five times in an apartment near Georgia Tech. She was found partially clothed on the bathroom floor, police said.

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From left, Nina Kendrick cries with a trauma specialist from the Atlanta Police Department just outside the crime scene on Merritt Avenue Thursday, March 4, 2010 where Yolanda Johnson, 35, Kendrick's granddaughter, was stabbed four or five times in an apartment near Georgia Tech. She was found partially clothed on the bathroom floor, police said.

Elissa Eubanks, eeubanks.com From left, Nina Kendrick cries with a trauma specialist from the Atlanta Police Department just outside the crime scene on Merritt Avenue Thursday, March 4, 2010 where Yolanda Johnson, 35, Kendrick's granddaughter, was stabbed four or five times in an apartment near Georgia Tech. She was found partially clothed on the bathroom floor, police said.

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Ty Tagami, ttagami@ajc.com Yolanda Johnson, 35, was stabbed four or five times in an apartment near Georgia Tech. She was found partially clothed on the bathroom floor, police said.

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Yolanda Johnson, 35, was stabbed four or five times in an apartment near Georgia Tech. She was found partially clothed on the bathroom floor Thursday afternoon, police said.

Police told the AJC late Friday morning they had no new developments in the case.

Johnson's children found her at about 4 p.m., said Maj. Keith Meadows of the Atlanta Police Department.

Police say Johnson had a visitor at about 2 p.m. There was no sign of forced entry, but there were signs of a struggle in the kitchen and bathroom, Meadows said.

Police do not have a specific suspect but do want to talk to a boyfriend, friends and family.

"We have not ruled out the possibility the attack was domestic in nature," said Meadows.

Barbara Moon said her oldest grandson found the body in their home at Centennial Place Apartments, which is on Merritts Avenue.

"Whoever took my daughter's life, I'm asking you to step forward," Moon angrily said at the scene. "My grandchildren found their mother dead."

Johnson worked as an assistant manager at a Dollar Tree store, said Moon.

The four children were taken to a nearby apartment with blankets over their heads during the investigation. DFCS has taken custody of the children, but will interview their grandmother, who said she wants the kids to live with her.

Neighbor Bilqis Westbrooks said word of the death was "devastating."

"My kids play with her kids," said Westbrooks. She didn't think a man lived at the address.