Dan Johnson, who was accused of sexually abusing a member of his Heart of Fire Church in Fern Creek, said in a press conference that the allegation "absolutely has no merit." Days after the accusations were reported, Johnson died by suicide. Marty Pearl/Special to CJ
Rep. Dan Johnson died by "a probable suicide" Wednesday night, just two days after allegations surfaced that he had sexually abused a teenage girl at the church where he was a pastor.
Bullitt County Coroner David Billings said Johnson was found with a single gunshot wound to the head at Greenwell Ford Road in Mount Washington. The spot is called the River Bottoms.
Background: Who was Dan Johnson?
House Speaker Pro Tem David Osborne, R-Prospect, said in a telephone interview Wednesday night that he had received confirmation of Johnson’s death.
"It is with great sadness that we have received confirmed reports of the passing of Rep. Dan Johnson this evening. Please keep his family in your prayers during this incredibly difficult time."
Johnson was accused by a woman of molesting her when she was 17 after a New Year’s party in 2012, according to a wide-ranging report published Monday by the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting.
That was followed by calls for Johnson's resignation from both Republican and Democratic leaders. But at a press conference Tuesday morning, Johnson said that he wouldn't step down.
Johnson — who said his wife and daughters were close to the young woman, who is now 21 — said she was a church member upset about how he spoke to the girls that night.
"I don't want to blast this girl, I have a lot of compassion for her," he said on Tuesday. "I'm very sorrowful that she's in this dark place in her life."
Around 6 p.m. Wednesday, Johnson wrote on Facebook that the allegations were false and sent a farewell to his church followers and family.
"The accusations from NPR are false GOD and only GOD knows the truth. Nothing is the way they make it out to be ... GOD LOVES ALL PEOPLE NO MATTER WHAT," Johnson wrote.
The Facebook post was taken down later Wednesday evening.
Related: Louisville Public Media 'deeply sad' to hear of Dan Johnson death
More: Johnson's resignation sought after church member alleges sexual abuse
The politician and self-appointed "pope" at the Heart of Fire Church in Fern Creek had a complicated history in Kentucky since being elected last year.
Despite being asked by the Republican Party of Kentucky to quit the House race after posting racist images to his Facebook page, Johnson beat Democratic incumbent Linda Belcher by less than 200 votes last year to win the 49th District seat. His social media posts included, among other things, depictions of former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama as monkeys. They were later removed.
In the House he served on interim committees for state government; tourism, small business, and information technology; transportation; veterans, military affairs, and public protection, according to his legislative biography.
From the archives: Kentucky House hopeful Dan Johnson says Obama ape posts are not racist
Gov. Matt Bevin on Thursday expressed his condolences to Johnson's family.
"Saddened to hear of tonight's death of KY Representative Dan Johnson," Bevin tweeted. "My heart breaks for his family tonight ... These are heavy days in Frankfort and in America ... May God indeed shed His grace on us all ... We sure need it."
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul also tweeted his support.
"Just terrible news from Kentucky tonight on the passing of Rep. Dan Johnson," Paul tweeted. "I cannot imagine his pain or the heartbreak his family is dealing with tonight. Kelley and I pray for his loved ones."
Rep. Jeff Hoover, the Jamestown Republican who resigned as House Speaker last month after admitting to confidentially settling a complaint of sexual harassment from a member of his staff, tweeted Wednesday night that Johnson had consoled him during his scandal.
"I am very sad over the passing of Rep. Dan Johnson," Hoover tweeted. "Over the past few weeks in some of the darkest days of my life, he reached out to me, encouraged me, and prayed for me. Prayers for his wife, children, grandchildren and all affected by this sad event."
Hoover admitted that he had entered a settlement and said he had sent inappropriate text messages to the staffer. But he denied having any sexual relationship with her or harassing her. He still maintains his House seat.
Party leaders on both sides of the aisle called for Johnson's resignation just hours after the report went public.
More: Johnson won't resign, says sexual abuse allegations are politically motivated
Bevin: Why are House Republicans calling for Johnson to resign but not Jeff Hoover?
On Tuesday, Rep. Wesley Morgan, a Richmond Republican, said House leaders should be ashamed of themselves and also took aim at the media on Twitter.
"Media, @KyDems and especially @KTGOP should be ashamed of itself," Morgan said in a tweet. "Republicans, you turned your back on an ally and forced a good man who was trying to do right by the people of Kentucky to suicide. All because he wasn't ever your pick. You wanted him gone. Think about that."
Louisville Public Media president Michael Skoler issued a statement saying they were "deeply sad to hear" about Johnson's death.
"All of us at Louisville Public Media are deeply sad to hear that State Representative Dan Johnson has died, apparently of suicide," Skoler said in a statement. "As part of the process, we reached out to Representative Johnson numerous times over the course of a seven-month investigation. He declined requests to talk about our findings."
Thomas Novelly: 502-582-4465; tnovelly@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @TomNovelly. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/tomn.
