Murder suspect captured following 45-day, 3-state manhunt after victim discovered in shallow grave

Murder suspect Isabelle Johnson was arrested Thursday following a weeks-long multistate manhunt spanning Florida, Georgia and Alabama, authorities said.

A U.S. Marshals task force arrested Johnson, 38, at a home in Cottondale, about an hour west of Tallahassee, according to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office. 

She was wanted on a murder charge in the death of Jason Coulthart, whose body was found buried in a shallow grave in Florida on June 25.

Authorities said Johnson was taken into custody without incident Thursday afternoon, capping a 45-day manhunt. She was booked into the Jackson County Jail and is expected to be extradited to Walton County. Officials said she could face additional charges.

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“We got her,” the sheriff’s office said. “Isabelle Johnson is in custody.”

Officials said the arrest stemmed from information developed by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit about Johnson’s whereabouts.

Jackson County Sheriff Donald Edenfield said that after receiving the information, his deputies and members of the task force responded to an address off Peanut Road, just outside Cottondale.

Walton County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Dustin Cosson praised the cooperation among local, state and federal law enforcement agencies that led to Johnson’s arrest.

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“It’s absolutely a good day,” Cosson said. “It’s really important, again, just want to stress to the public. She’s here, she’s in custody.”

“We can’t express the amount of appreciation for the work that’s been done,” he added.

Cosson said investigators put in “tons and tons of man hours” during the roughly 45-day search for Johnson, while noting that the broader investigation has involved more than 40 subpoenas and over 20 search warrants.

Coulthart was reported missing May 24 after he was last seen leaving the College Condominiums on East College Boulevard in Niceville.

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During the missing-person investigation, detectives developed information that led authorities to a property off Sunset Lane in Freeport. Investigators obtained a search warrant and found Coulthart’s body buried in a shallow grave on June 25, according to the sheriff’s office.

Five other people have been arrested in connection with the case. Michael Ray White, Kathleen Morris, Bobbi Wagstaff, Martin Leaverton and Sandra Leaverton have been charged with accessory to a capital felony after the fact.

Authorities said Thursday that they expect additional arrests in the case.

During the manhunt, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office described Johnson as “cunning” and a “master manipulator” while warning anyone who may have been helping her to stop.

Officials said additional details surrounding Johnson’s arrest could not immediately be released because the investigation remains active.

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Fox News Digital’s Stepheny Price contributed to this report.