In what appeared to be a happy and loving home in Northeast Oklahoma City, a tragedy unfolded that cut short the lives of 29-year-old Tara Shay Johnston and her 16-month-old daughter, Allison Sue Johnston. On Tuesday, February 28, 2012, both mother and daughter were found deceased inside their residence. The devastating discovery sent shockwaves through their community and left friends and family grappling with an unthinkable loss.
The primary suspect in the double homicide was
identified by police as Tara's husband and Allison's father, Daniel Johnston. Investigators believe that Daniel Johnston killed his wife and daughter before traveling to Las Vegas, where he then took his own life in a hotel room. The motive behind the violent act remains unclear, as those close to the couple reported no apparent signs of marital or financial distress. By all outward appearances, theirs was a happy family, making the sudden violence all the more difficult to comprehend.
In the wake of the murder-suicide, the neighborhood was left in a state of shock and grief. Friends and family mourned the senseless loss of a vibrant young mother and her innocent child. Tara was remembered as a cosmetologist who had attended Guthrie High School and worked at Urology Associates and Chicas Restaurant in Oklahoma City. A fund was established to assist with the funeral expenses for Tara and Allison, who were laid to rest together. The investigation into their deaths was closed following the confirmation of Daniel Johnston as the perpetrator and his subsequent suicide.
