RURAL FORT DODGE – A man was found dead in a bean field near Fort Dodge almost seven years ago, and police say they now have a suspect in custody, charged with murder in the first degree.
On December 26th, 2016, deputies from the Webster County Sheriff’s Office were called to the area on Johnson Avenue and 225th Street in rural Webster County (just outside Fort Dodge) for a report of and black male laying in a field. When deputies arrived, they discovered the deceased body of Donald E. Preston (D.O.B. 10/14/1965) laying in a bean field. Evidence at the scene indicated that his death was suspicious. Detectives from the Webster County Sheriff’s Office and agents with the Division of Criminal Investigation were notified and began to process the scene, gather evidence, and began a lengthy investigation into the death of Mr. Preston.
Since the initial call on December 26, 2016, detectives and agents have followed up numerous leads, conducted numerous interviews and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Crime Lab has processed all evidence collected during this investigation in a combined effort to identify and prosecute the individual responsible for this homicide.
On Thursday, February 2, 2023, 49-year-old Christopher Todd Johnson was arrested on a criminal charge of first-degree murder, a class A felony. The criminal complaint against Johnson states:
“On or about December 20th, 2016, Christopher Todd Johnson, did commit murder in the 1st degree by willfully, deliberately, and with premeditation shot and killed Donald Edward Preston. Johnson and Preston were together in Johnson’s Toyota Corolla. Johnson drove Preston around on gravel roads in rural Webster County, Iowa. Johnson showed Preston his handgun and Johnson shot the handgun. With malice aforethought, Preston was subsequently shot and killed by Johnson, with Johnson’s handgun. Preston was left dead in a field in rural Webster County, Iowa. Preston’s autopsy determined that he died of gunshot wounds to the head and abdomen.”
Johnson was arrested in Cedar Rapids after being released from the Federal Bureau of Prisons, after serving approximately 5 years in custody for Possessing a Firearm as a Prohibited Person charge, that he plead guilty to in 2018.
Johnson is now in the Webster County Jail on a one million dollar cash bond and was scheduled to make his initial appearance on Friday, February 3, 2023 at 9:00 AM in Webster County Magistrate Court.
(PHOTO: Christopher Todd Johnson jail photo)