Billy Ray Johnson, a 57-year-old Black man, was found deceased on August 22, 2020, in a camper located on Cedar Grove Road in Townville, South Carolina. His girlfriend, Amy Jo Lambert, was also found deceased inside the camper. The Anderson County Coroner's Office later confirmed that both Johnson and Lambert had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. After they were shot, the camper was intentionally set on fire and locked from the outside.
The investigation into the double homicide led to
the identification of Mckenzie Maxine Carey as the primary suspect. In October 2021, she was formally charged with the murders of both Billy Ray Johnson and Amy Jo Lambert. Prior to being charged, Carey had been named a person of interest in the case as investigators established a connection between her and the crime scene. The motive behind the killings has been a central question for those following the case.
In the course of the investigation, two other individuals, Leonard Piercefield and Payton Call, were also arrested. They were charged with accessory after the fact to murder. Authorities alleged that Piercefield and Call assisted Carey after the murders were committed, knowing she was responsible. The two attempted to flee to Georgia but were apprehended by state police during a traffic stop. At the time of their arrest, they were found in possession of cocaine and a stolen firearm, which was later determined to be the weapon used in the murders. Johnson's family has been public with their grief and their desire for justice for their loved one, describing him as a well-liked man with no known enemies.
