September 29, 2025 • 16 mins
In this episode of Hunting 4 Answers: On April 30, 2017, Keir Johnson and her 8-month-old daughter, Chloe, disappeared from Hampton, Virginia, without a trace. For nearly eight years, their fate remained a haunting mystery—until a shocking arrest in 2025 revealed disturbing secrets and a chilling investigation. Anyone with information about this case should contact the Newport News Police Department tip line at 757-928-4100 or anonymously at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP (1-888-562-5887). You can also reach out to the Virginia Attorney General's office at 804-786-2071.
This is the story of Keir and Chloe Johnson.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hunting for Answers is a production of the Black Effect
Podcast Network and iHeartRadio. Welcome to Hunting for Answers, a
true crime podcast. I'm your host Hunter, and today we're
highlighting a case that happened on April thirtieth, twenty seventeen,
a thirty four year old mother from Hampton, Virginia told
(00:21):
her family she was taking her eight month old daughter
to the beach for the day. They were supposed to
meet a friend at Buckrow Beach, but they never showed up,
and they have never been seen since. For nearly eight years,
their disappearance remained a mystery. No bodies, no answers, just
(00:44):
a mother and a baby who vanished without a trace.
But in February twenty twenty five, the silence was finally broken.
The arrest that followed would shock a community and reveal
the dark truth by behind a cold case that had
haunted investigators for years. This is the story of Kierre
(01:09):
and Chloe Johnson. Kierre Chantey Johnson was thirty four years
old in the spring of twenty seventeen. She was a
devoted mother to her baby, Chloe, who had just turned
eight months old. Kier lived in Hampton, Virginia, a coastal
(01:30):
city on the southeastern tip of the Virginia Peninsula where
the James River flows into the Chesapeake Bay. During this time,
the home she was staying at was located on Hastings
Drive in Hampton. By all accounts, Kier was a loving
mother who doated on her infant daughter. Those who knew
(01:51):
her described her as responsible in caring. She had dreams
and plans for her future with Chloe. At the time
of the disappearance in April twenty seventeen, Kier Johnson and
Carlos Johnson Junior, Chloe's biological father, were separated and not
(02:12):
in a romantic relationship, though they were still supposed to
be sharing parental responsibilities. According to Keier's family, when Carlos
found out that she was pregnant, he wanted her to
have an abortion and said he would be no part
of Chloe's life. He denied paternity and was refusing to
(02:34):
pay child support at the time Kier and Chloe disappeared.
On Sunday, April thirtieth, twenty seventeen, Kier told her mother
she planned to spend the day at buck Row Beach
with baby Chloe and a friend. They never showed up
for the meeting. In the day that had begun, like
any other, ended in uncertainty. Buck Row Beach is a
(03:00):
popular spot in Hampton, known for its sandy shores and
family friendly atmosphere. For a young mother with an infant,
it would have been an ideal place to spend a
relaxing Sunday. But when Kier and Chloe never showed up
to meet her friend, concern immediately set in. This wasn't
(03:23):
like Kier. She was reliable. If she said she would
be somewhere, she would be there. On May first, twenty seventeen,
her family reported her missing to Hampton Police. They said
that she had not been seen since noon the previous day,
April thirtieth. Publicly reported sources do not confirm a precise
(03:48):
last sighting, but would happen next would become a source
of criticism. Despite having a missing mother an infant, it
would take eleven days before or an Amber alert was
issued for Kiera and Chloe. Police explained that the delay
stemmed from the criteria of the Amber alert system, which
(04:10):
requires evidence of an abduction and specific details like a
suspector vehicle to share with the public. According to the police,
Without that information, the alert could not have been activated
right away. On May eleven, twenty seventeen, the Hampton Police
Department finally initiated the Amber Alert for eight month old
(04:34):
Chloe Johnson, but by then the critical first hours and
days had already passed. Experts in missing persons cases will
tell you that the first forty eight to seventy hours
are absolutely vital. Those are the hours when witnesses memories
are fresh, when evidence is still intact, and when the
(04:57):
trail hasn't yet gone cold. The investigation that followed was extensive,
but ultimately frustrating. Police searched in Hampton and the surrounding
areas connected to Kier and Chloe. They interviewed family members,
friends and acquaintances, and pursued numerous leads as they came in.
(05:21):
But despite their efforts, the case seemed to hit one
dead end after another. There were no credible sightings after
April thirtieth, no financial activity on Kier's accounts, and no
digital footprint to follow. As weeks turned into months and
months turned into years, the case grew cold. Kier and
(05:45):
Chloe Johnson had simply disappeared, leaving behind more questions than
answers for Kier's family, particularly her twin sister, the uncertainty
was agne. They held on to hope while simultaneously fearing
the worst. They organized searches, distributed flyers, and kept the
(06:10):
case in the public eye as much as possible. Throughout
it all, one name kept surfacing in the investigation. Carlos
Johnson Junior, Chloe's father and Keir's ex partner. Carlos Johnson
Junior was thirty eight years old at the time of
(06:30):
their disappearances. As Chloe's father, he was naturally someone who
police wanted to speak with, but initially there wasn't enough
evidence to move forward with any charges. However, investigators never
stopped looking at him, and what they would eventually discover
(06:51):
would paint a disturbing picture of premeditation and calculation. According
to the court documents reported by WUKR News three, Carlos
Johnson Junior conducted a series of concerning online searches months
before Kierre and Chloe vanished on January eighteen, twenty seventeen.
(07:14):
He searched for accidental baby deaths, followed by inquiries about
how much rat poison is needed to kill a human
and liquid poison that kills instantly. Just days later, on
January twenty third, he looked up forced fatherhood in how
(07:34):
to avoid child support. These searches, along with others, would
later be cited as crucial pieces of evidence in the investigation.
The case remained cold for nearly eight years, eight years
of uncertainty for the family, eight years of an unsolved
(07:55):
mystery that haunted the Hampton community. The cold case detectives
never gave up. They continued to work the case, re
examining evidence, following up on old leads, and developing new ones.
Their persistence would eventually pay off. The investigation became a
(08:18):
collaborative effort between local police and the Virginia Attorney General's Office,
bringing additional resources and expertise to the case. Friday February fourteenth,
twenty twenty five, Valentine's Day, it would prove to be
anything but romantic for Carlos Johnson Junior. At approximately twelve
(08:43):
thirty in the afternoon, he was taken into custody in
Newport News, Virginia. The arrest was a culmination of years
of investigative work. Carlos was charged with two counts of
first degree murder, one for Kierre and one for baby Chloe.
(09:03):
The news sent shockwaves throughout the community. After nearly eight
years of waiting, there was finally an arrest in the case.
Virginia Attorney General Jason Majoras held a press conference to
announce the arrest. His words were measured but powerful. My
(09:25):
heart goes out to the family of Kier and Chloe Johnson.
This arrest is the result of years of determined investigative work,
he continued. While nothing can bring back the lives lost,
we remained steadfast and our duty to see justice served.
In the courtroom, Newport News Commonwealth's Attorney Howard Quinn echoed
(09:50):
those sentiments. We have not forgotten Kier and Chloe Johnson,
and today's announcement marks a new phase of our work
to get justice for them. In court tierre Petway, Here's
twin sister spoke out, stating that was Chloe's biological father,
(10:10):
and that's who we've always known to be the alleged
suspect or whatever you're supposed to say it, that's who
we've always known, but we just couldn't say it. But
I'm glad the police finally made an arrest and they
can start the legal process on putting him away. Newport
(10:31):
News Chief of Police Steve Drew spoke directly to the
family during the announcement. This day has been a long
time coming, especially for the family of Kier and Chloe Johnson.
We want to express our deepest empathy for the Johnson
family during this incredibly difficult time. He acknowledged the emotional impact, saying,
(10:54):
we have consistently asked the Johnson family for their patients
throughout this process, and we understand the emotional toll this
has taken on them. He too also praised the dedication
of his investigators. Carlos Johnson Junior was scheduled for arraignment
on February eighteen, twenty twenty five. At forty six years old,
(11:18):
he now faced the possibility of spending the rest of
his life in prison for the alleged murders of his
ex girlfriend and infant daughter. The charges stacked against him
were serious, and by August twenty twenty five, a judge
had ruled that the double murder case could proceed against
(11:39):
Carlos Johnson Junior. The legal process was moving forward. One
of the most disturbing aspects of this case is what
it reveals about DV and the vulnerability of women and children.
Here was a young mother trying to navigate co parenting
with someone who, accorded to prosecutors, was planning her death.
(12:04):
The alleged online searches suggest a level of premeditation that
is chilling. If these allegations are true, Carlos wasn't acting
in a moment of passion. He was planning, calculating, and researching.
What makes this case even more tragic is the innocent
(12:25):
life that was lost. Baby Chloe was just eight months old.
She had her entire life ahead of her. The loss
of a child is perhaps the most devastating thing a
family can endure, but to lose a child to violence,
allegedly at the hands of her own father, adds another
(12:48):
layer of horror to an already unthinkable crime. To this day,
the bodies of Kier and Chloe Johnson have never been found.
This presents unique challenges for prosecutors, who must prove murder
without physical evidence of the victim's deaths. Cases like this,
(13:09):
known as nobody homicides, require prosecutors to build their case
on circumstantial evidence, witness testimony, and any other indirect proof. However,
the fact that prosecutors felt confident enough to bring charges
suggests they believe they have strong enough evidence, including those
(13:30):
alleged Internet searches and whatever else their eight year investigation
has uncovered. As the court process moves forward, Carlos Johnson
Junior is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Prosecutors must prove
beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that he intentionally and
(13:51):
premeditatively caused the deaths of Kierre and Chloe. As the
court process moves forward, Carlos Johnson Junior is presumed innocent
until proven guilty. Prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt
at trial that he intentionally and premeditatively caused the deaths
(14:14):
of Kierre and Chloe Johnson. My thoughts and prayers are
with the family and friends of Kier and Chloe. Anyone
with information about their case, no matter how small, should
contact the Newport News Police Department tip line or the
Virginia Attorney General's Office. You can find their contact information
(14:37):
in the description below. A reward of thirty five thousand
dollars has been offered for information leading to the recovery
of the mother and daughter. Kierre Johnson was a daughter,
a sister, a mother who deserved the chance to grow
old with her child, and of course, Chloe was just
(14:59):
an innocent girl. As their absence looms, their story demands
attention for the Johnson family, for their community, and for justice.
As we close out this episode, remember sharing Kier and
Chlobe's story hopes to spread awareness and could lead to
(15:22):
the answers their family has been seeking all of this time.
Don't forget to click the follow button to stay updated
on their case and others like it. Be sure to
subscribe to Hunting for Answers on YouTube and follow us
on Instagram and TikTok for more true crime content in
case updates. Also, if you're watching on YouTube, share your
(15:45):
thoughts on this case in the comments below. Thank you
so much for joining us on another episode. Until next time.
(16:07):
Hunting for Answers is a production of the Black Effect
Podcast Network. For more podcasts from the Black Effect Podcast Network,
visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen
to your favorite shows.
Hunting for Answers is a production of the Black Effect
Podcast Network and iHeartRadio. Welcome to Hunting for Answers, a
true crime podcast. I'm your host Hunter, and today we're
highlighting a case that happened on April thirtieth, twenty seventeen,
a thirty four year old mother from Hampton, Virginia told
(00:21):
her family she was taking her eight month old daughter
to the beach for the day. They were supposed to
meet a friend at Buckrow Beach, but they never showed up,
and they have never been seen since. For nearly eight years,
their disappearance remained a mystery. No bodies, no answers, just
(00:44):
a mother and a baby who vanished without a trace.
But in February twenty twenty five, the silence was finally broken.
The arrest that followed would shock a community and reveal
the dark truth by behind a cold case that had
haunted investigators for years. This is the story of Kierre
(01:09):
and Chloe Johnson. Kierre Chantey Johnson was thirty four years
old in the spring of twenty seventeen. She was a
devoted mother to her baby, Chloe, who had just turned
eight months old. Kier lived in Hampton, Virginia, a coastal
(01:30):
city on the southeastern tip of the Virginia Peninsula where
the James River flows into the Chesapeake Bay. During this time,
the home she was staying at was located on Hastings
Drive in Hampton. By all accounts, Kier was a loving
mother who doated on her infant daughter. Those who knew
(01:51):
her described her as responsible in caring. She had dreams
and plans for her future with Chloe. At the time
of the disappearance in April twenty seventeen, Kier Johnson and
Carlos Johnson Junior, Chloe's biological father, were separated and not
(02:12):
in a romantic relationship, though they were still supposed to
be sharing parental responsibilities. According to Keier's family, when Carlos
found out that she was pregnant, he wanted her to
have an abortion and said he would be no part
of Chloe's life. He denied paternity and was refusing to
(02:34):
pay child support at the time Kier and Chloe disappeared.
On Sunday, April thirtieth, twenty seventeen, Kier told her mother
she planned to spend the day at buck Row Beach
with baby Chloe and a friend. They never showed up
for the meeting. In the day that had begun, like
any other, ended in uncertainty. Buck Row Beach is a
(03:00):
popular spot in Hampton, known for its sandy shores and
family friendly atmosphere. For a young mother with an infant,
it would have been an ideal place to spend a
relaxing Sunday. But when Kier and Chloe never showed up
to meet her friend, concern immediately set in. This wasn't
(03:23):
like Kier. She was reliable. If she said she would
be somewhere, she would be there. On May first, twenty seventeen,
her family reported her missing to Hampton Police. They said
that she had not been seen since noon the previous day,
April thirtieth. Publicly reported sources do not confirm a precise
(03:48):
last sighting, but would happen next would become a source
of criticism. Despite having a missing mother an infant, it
would take eleven days before or an Amber alert was
issued for Kiera and Chloe. Police explained that the delay
stemmed from the criteria of the Amber alert system, which
(04:10):
requires evidence of an abduction and specific details like a
suspector vehicle to share with the public. According to the police,
Without that information, the alert could not have been activated
right away. On May eleven, twenty seventeen, the Hampton Police
Department finally initiated the Amber Alert for eight month old
(04:34):
Chloe Johnson, but by then the critical first hours and
days had already passed. Experts in missing persons cases will
tell you that the first forty eight to seventy hours
are absolutely vital. Those are the hours when witnesses memories
are fresh, when evidence is still intact, and when the
(04:57):
trail hasn't yet gone cold. The investigation that followed was extensive,
but ultimately frustrating. Police searched in Hampton and the surrounding
areas connected to Kier and Chloe. They interviewed family members,
friends and acquaintances, and pursued numerous leads as they came in.
(05:21):
But despite their efforts, the case seemed to hit one
dead end after another. There were no credible sightings after
April thirtieth, no financial activity on Kier's accounts, and no
digital footprint to follow. As weeks turned into months and
months turned into years, the case grew cold. Kier and
(05:45):
Chloe Johnson had simply disappeared, leaving behind more questions than
answers for Kier's family, particularly her twin sister, the uncertainty
was agne. They held on to hope while simultaneously fearing
the worst. They organized searches, distributed flyers, and kept the
(06:10):
case in the public eye as much as possible. Throughout
it all, one name kept surfacing in the investigation. Carlos
Johnson Junior, Chloe's father and Keir's ex partner. Carlos Johnson
Junior was thirty eight years old at the time of
(06:30):
their disappearances. As Chloe's father, he was naturally someone who
police wanted to speak with, but initially there wasn't enough
evidence to move forward with any charges. However, investigators never
stopped looking at him, and what they would eventually discover
(06:51):
would paint a disturbing picture of premeditation and calculation. According
to the court documents reported by WUKR News three, Carlos
Johnson Junior conducted a series of concerning online searches months
before Kierre and Chloe vanished on January eighteen, twenty seventeen.
(07:14):
He searched for accidental baby deaths, followed by inquiries about
how much rat poison is needed to kill a human
and liquid poison that kills instantly. Just days later, on
January twenty third, he looked up forced fatherhood in how
(07:34):
to avoid child support. These searches, along with others, would
later be cited as crucial pieces of evidence in the investigation.
The case remained cold for nearly eight years, eight years
of uncertainty for the family, eight years of an unsolved
(07:55):
mystery that haunted the Hampton community. The cold case detectives
never gave up. They continued to work the case, re
examining evidence, following up on old leads, and developing new ones.
Their persistence would eventually pay off. The investigation became a
(08:18):
collaborative effort between local police and the Virginia Attorney General's Office,
bringing additional resources and expertise to the case. Friday February fourteenth,
twenty twenty five, Valentine's Day, it would prove to be
anything but romantic for Carlos Johnson Junior. At approximately twelve
(08:43):
thirty in the afternoon, he was taken into custody in
Newport News, Virginia. The arrest was a culmination of years
of investigative work. Carlos was charged with two counts of
first degree murder, one for Kierre and one for baby Chloe.
(09:03):
The news sent shockwaves throughout the community. After nearly eight
years of waiting, there was finally an arrest in the case.
Virginia Attorney General Jason Majoras held a press conference to
announce the arrest. His words were measured but powerful. My
(09:25):
heart goes out to the family of Kier and Chloe Johnson.
This arrest is the result of years of determined investigative work,
he continued. While nothing can bring back the lives lost,
we remained steadfast and our duty to see justice served.
In the courtroom, Newport News Commonwealth's Attorney Howard Quinn echoed
(09:50):
those sentiments. We have not forgotten Kier and Chloe Johnson,
and today's announcement marks a new phase of our work
to get justice for them. In court tierre Petway, Here's
twin sister spoke out, stating that was Chloe's biological father,
(10:10):
and that's who we've always known to be the alleged
suspect or whatever you're supposed to say it, that's who
we've always known, but we just couldn't say it. But
I'm glad the police finally made an arrest and they
can start the legal process on putting him away. Newport
(10:31):
News Chief of Police Steve Drew spoke directly to the
family during the announcement. This day has been a long
time coming, especially for the family of Kier and Chloe Johnson.
We want to express our deepest empathy for the Johnson
family during this incredibly difficult time. He acknowledged the emotional impact, saying,
(10:54):
we have consistently asked the Johnson family for their patients
throughout this process, and we understand the emotional toll this
has taken on them. He too also praised the dedication
of his investigators. Carlos Johnson Junior was scheduled for arraignment
on February eighteen, twenty twenty five. At forty six years old,
(11:18):
he now faced the possibility of spending the rest of
his life in prison for the alleged murders of his
ex girlfriend and infant daughter. The charges stacked against him
were serious, and by August twenty twenty five, a judge
had ruled that the double murder case could proceed against
(11:39):
Carlos Johnson Junior. The legal process was moving forward. One
of the most disturbing aspects of this case is what
it reveals about DV and the vulnerability of women and children.
Here was a young mother trying to navigate co parenting
with someone who, accorded to prosecutors, was planning her death.
(12:04):
The alleged online searches suggest a level of premeditation that
is chilling. If these allegations are true, Carlos wasn't acting
in a moment of passion. He was planning, calculating, and researching.
What makes this case even more tragic is the innocent
(12:25):
life that was lost. Baby Chloe was just eight months old.
She had her entire life ahead of her. The loss
of a child is perhaps the most devastating thing a
family can endure, but to lose a child to violence,
allegedly at the hands of her own father, adds another
(12:48):
layer of horror to an already unthinkable crime. To this day,
the bodies of Kier and Chloe Johnson have never been found.
This presents unique challenges for prosecutors, who must prove murder
without physical evidence of the victim's deaths. Cases like this,
(13:09):
known as nobody homicides, require prosecutors to build their case
on circumstantial evidence, witness testimony, and any other indirect proof. However,
the fact that prosecutors felt confident enough to bring charges
suggests they believe they have strong enough evidence, including those
(13:30):
alleged Internet searches and whatever else their eight year investigation
has uncovered. As the court process moves forward, Carlos Johnson
Junior is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Prosecutors must prove
beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that he intentionally and
(13:51):
premeditatively caused the deaths of Kierre and Chloe. As the
court process moves forward, Carlos Johnson Junior is presumed innocent
until proven guilty. Prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt
at trial that he intentionally and premeditatively caused the deaths
(14:14):
of Kierre and Chloe Johnson. My thoughts and prayers are
with the family and friends of Kier and Chloe. Anyone
with information about their case, no matter how small, should
contact the Newport News Police Department tip line or the
Virginia Attorney General's Office. You can find their contact information
(14:37):
in the description below. A reward of thirty five thousand
dollars has been offered for information leading to the recovery
of the mother and daughter. Kierre Johnson was a daughter,
a sister, a mother who deserved the chance to grow
old with her child, and of course, Chloe was just
(14:59):
an innocent girl. As their absence looms, their story demands
attention for the Johnson family, for their community, and for justice.
As we close out this episode, remember sharing Kier and
Chlobe's story hopes to spread awareness and could lead to
(15:22):
the answers their family has been seeking all of this time.
Don't forget to click the follow button to stay updated
on their case and others like it. Be sure to
subscribe to Hunting for Answers on YouTube and follow us
on Instagram and TikTok for more true crime content in
case updates. Also, if you're watching on YouTube, share your
(15:45):
thoughts on this case in the comments below. Thank you
so much for joining us on another episode. Until next time.
(16:07):
Hunting for Answers is a production of the Black Effect
Podcast Network. For more podcasts from the Black Effect Podcast Network,
visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen
to your favorite shows.
Host
Hunter Gilmore
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