In what appeared to be a shocking and tragic turn of events, 29-year-old Tara Shay Johnston was found deceased in her Oklahoma City home on February 28, 2012. Alongside her was her 16-month-old daughter, Allison Sue Johnston, who had also been killed. Tara, a cosmetologist who had attended Guthrie High School and worked at Urology Associates and Chicas Restaurant, was born on March 5, 1982, in Oklahoma City.
The primary suspect in the double homicide was identified by law enforcement as
Tara's husband, Daniel Johnston. Investigators concluded that Daniel Johnston was responsible for the deaths of his wife and young daughter. Following the discovery of their bodies, the investigation took a grim and distant turn. Daniel Johnston had reportedly fled to Las Vegas, Nevada, after committing the murders.
There, in a hotel room, Daniel Johnston took his own life. His suicide brought a close to the investigation, as authorities determined it to be a case of murder-suicide, with no other individuals sought in connection with the deaths of Tara and Allison. The motive behind the devastating actions of Daniel Johnston remained unclear to friends and family, who expressed their shock and grief, stating they had not witnessed any apparent signs of trouble within the couple's relationship. To the contrary, they had appeared to be a happy and loving family.
