Billings police said Wednesday they are looking for the remains of a suspected murder victim, missing for the past year, along the Pryor Creek drainage between Pryor and Huntley.
Jessie Lamarr Johnson went missing in February 2024, and his case is being investigated as a homicide.
At the time of his disappearance, he was described as 30 years old, African American, 6 feet tall and 170 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.
A family friend relayed a statement for Johnson's mother, Emma Lena BellRock Prince.
“It has been a long, very hard, torturous year and some change with no answers,” said Stacy Limberrhand. “Many nights with no sleep and lots of anxiety, not knowing where her son's body is, but knowing that he has met his maker.”
Emma Lena BellRock Prince also expressed gratitude to detectives who investigated.
Limberhand also gave a statement on behalf of Johnson's sister, Clarina Johnson.
“This has broken her family in so, so many ways, especially her being the oldest sibling," Limberhand said. "She is just devastated and hopes that this will bring light to many other families who have lost loved ones in maybe similar tragic ways.”
Johnson left behind daughters, one in middle school, one in elementary school.
“He was hoping to, get into a halfway house or to get accepted back into the treatment facility,” Limberhand said. “And, it's unfortunate that he trusted these people one last time.”
Police are asking land owners in the area or anyone else who comes across remains to call the investigations division at 406-657-8473.
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