El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal released the following statement following the arrest of 46-year-old Johnny Rankin Morris in the missing person investigation, which began on December 19, 2024, at a residence in the 1800 block of Pima Drive in the Cimarron Hills area of unincorporated El Paso County:
“I am pleased to announce an arrest warrant was issued on December 31, 2024, in a missing person case in El Paso County.
“I am grateful to our many partners who assisted us with this intricate and geographically extensive investigation. Assistance from law enforcement agencies and citizens in Colorado, Louisiana, and Mississippi communities was critical to solving this case.
“Additionally, I want to thank my team of dedicated professionals at the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. Numerous assets from the Law Enforcement Bureau and our Regional Communications Center have worked long hours, weekends, and holidays on this case.
“I want to express a special thanks to detectives from our Investigations Division whose skill and tenacity were paramount in bringing closure to this case.
“As Sheriff, I am incredibly proud of the nearly 900 sworn deputies and professional individuals who make up the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. We are deeply committed to keeping our community safe by holding criminals accountable when they break the law and violate the rights of our law-abiding citizens.”
From the onset of the missing person case on December 19, 2024, our investigative efforts have been ongoing and relentless, with cooperation and teamwork across numerous agencies.
During the investigation, information was developed which led investigators to a wooded location outside of El Paso County, where a deceased adult male was located. The body of the deceased individual was recovered and has since been positively identified as our missing person, 37-year-old Stephen Walker, by the El Paso County Coroner’s Office.
“I speak for my entire Office when I say our heartfelt prayers are with Mr. Walker’s family and friends as they navigate this tragic situation,” said Sheriff Roybal. “Although there is no way to ease their broken hearts, we hope to ease their burden by holding the individual who senselessly took Stephen’s life accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
Johnny Rankin Morris has been arrested and charged in the death of Mr. Walker and is awaiting extradition from Mississippi.
Morris is facing the following charges out of El Paso County: first-degree murder, tampering with a deceased human body, and tampering with physical evidence. He is being held without bond.
The affidavits and warrants for this investigation have been sealed to protect the integrity of the case and ensure a successful prosecution.
All parties involved in this investigation have been accounted for, and there is no further threat to the community.
Partnering Agencies from Colorado include:
-the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office
-the Colorado Bureau of Investigation
-the Colorado Springs Police Department Metro Crime Lab
-the Park County Sheriff’s Office
-the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office
-the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
-the Teller County Sheriff’s Office
-the Colorado State Patrol
-the Aurora Police Department
-the Buena Vista Police Department
-the Woodland Park Police Department
-and the Colorado Information Analysis Center and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Partnering Agencies from Mississippi include:
-the Lamar County Sheriff’s Office
-the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Office
-the Picayune Police Department
-the Hattiesburg Police Department
-and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation
Partnering Agencies from Louisiana include:
-The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office
-The Louisiana Fusion Center and Louisiana Real Time Crime Center
-and the Louisiana State Police
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office asks community members to contact the Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at 719-520-7777 if they have additional information regarding this investigation.