In the winter of 2012, the life of 34-year-old Antoinetta Monique 'Nette' Johnson, a beautician from Gary, Indiana, was tragically cut short. On December 13, 2012, Johnson was inside her beauty salon, Visions of Beauty, when she was fatally shot multiple times. The brazen attack, which occurred right across the street from the police station, was not believed to be a robbery.
Investigators immediately suspected a more sinister motive, linking her murder to her role as a key witness in another homicide case.
Antoinetta, a graduate of West Side High School's class of 1996, was known for her youthful spirit and her love for skating and spending time with her family. She was a mother to a daughter and two sons, and was a beloved wife, daughter, and sister. Her death left her family and community in mourning, with funeral services held at the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Gary.
The investigation into Antoinetta's death would eventually point to a man already behind bars. Dontaye Singletary was incarcerated at the Porter County Jail, facing charges for the murder of Carl Griffith. Antoinetta Johnson was a crucial witness in that case, having provided a statement to the police detailing her knowledge of the crime. According to court documents, Singletary had discussed with a cellmate, John Tener, that the state would have a difficult time proving the murder charge against him without Antoinetta's testimony. Tener later testified that Singletary had expressed concern about Antoinetta's statements to the police.
While in jail, Singletary saw a news report about Antoinetta's murder on television. His reaction, a 'fist bump' with another inmate and a smile, was noted by his cellmate. When Tener asked Singletary how her death had happened, Singletary's response led Tener to believe that he had arranged the murder from jail by sending a letter. The court ultimately concluded that Singletary had arranged for Antoinetta's murder to prevent her from testifying at his trial. While a description of the shooter was released—a Black man, about 5 feet 8 inches tall with a medium build and a medium complexion, wearing a hooded sweatshirt—it is the orchestration from behind bars that defined the chilling nature of her death.
