Missouri murder suspect nabbed 33 years later in Lawrenceville

By Alexis Stevens

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

In 1976, aspiring teacher and part-time waitress Rebecca Doisy agreed to have a drink with an admirer.

The 23-year-old Missouri woman was never seen again.

For 33 years, the man suspected of killing her — the man she was last seen with — has eluded capture. Johnny Wright, 63, was arrested last week in Lawrenceville, 700 miles from where police say he killed Doisy.

"We are in stunned disbelief," Doisy's younger sister Kathleen Doisy said Tuesday. "Where has he been for 33 years?"

The family believed Wright had possibly been killed himself in California, due to his involvement with drugs.

For at least a year, Wright has been in Lawrenceville, where he even registered to vote.

That changed last week when Wright went into the Lawrenceville police station to have a background check done for a prospective employer. He presented a state-issued photo ID and paid the fee for the background check, according to Capt. Greg Vaughn. Wright had been issued the ID on Sept. 17, and it contained his real name and date of birth.

But Wright's background check turned up an arrest warrant, dating back to 1985. Lawrenceville police checked with Columbia, Mo., police to confirm the warrant accusing Wright of Doisy's slaying.

The next day, Sept. 23, Wright went back to the police station to retrieve the background check.

"It just happened there were officers in the lobby when he walked in," Vaughn said. "He basically paid $15 to get extradited to Missouri.

Wright was arrested without incident.

"He put his hands behind his back," Vaughn said.

Wright waived extradition and remains in the Gwinnett County jail on $100,000 bond. It is unclear when he will be returned to Missouri.

For the Doisy family, Wright's arrest brings some closure, but is a reminder of the family ordeal so many years ago.

Becky Doisy was almost finished with her education degree at the University of Missouri when she quit school for a while to work as a waitress, Kathleen Doisy said. It was at Ernie's Restaurant that Becky first met Wright.

"He had been bothering her at work, trying to get her to go out with him," Kathleen Doisy said.

Finally, Becky agreed to have a drink with Wright. She was last seen alive that day: Aug. 5, 1976.

Two days later, when she didn't show up for work at Ernie's Restaurant, Kathleen Doisy reported her missing.

"She never missed work," Kathleen Dorsey said. "She didn't show up, and that's when we knew something was wrong."

Although she was presumed dead, Doisy's body was never found. Wright was questioned, but later released due to a lack of evidence. Nine years later when a former acquaintance of Wright's came forward with new information, a warrant was issued for Wright's arrest.

From 1985 until last week, Wright eluded police. Now that the prime suspect in her sister's disappearance is in custody, Kathleen Doisy is hoping for more details surrounding Becky's death.

"I just hope he can be successfully prosecuted," Doisy said.