Police Release Sketch of Man Wanted in Case of Missing Woman

By Erica Williams
Staff Writer

Feb. 25 -- Ten days after Kristine Louise Johnson vanished under suspicious circumstances, police Tuesday released a composite sketch of a man wanted in the 21-year-old Santa Monica resident's disappearance.

The sketch -- which could be a major break in a case that has attracted national attention -- was released one day after Los Angeles police discovered Johnson's 1996 white Mazda Miata at a Century City hotel. (sketch)

The sketch was developed from the description given on a special police tip line by a woman who said she had been lured to West Hollywood for a photo shoot under circumstances similar to those Johnson described to her roommate before disappearing.

A valet at the St. Regis Hotel in Century City said the man in the composite sketch strongly resembles a man he said parked Johnson's car the day after she disappeared.

"It is our belief that this person is involved in or has information regarding the disappearance of Kristine Johnson," Police Chief James T. Butts, Jr. said during a press conference in the City Council chambers attended by local and national media.

The man is described as white, in his 30s, 6-foot tall, with a thin to medium build, clean-shaven and of light complexion. He was last seen wearing a dark suit.

According to Butts, detectives received a tip last Thursday from a woman who said the man depicted in the sketch had approached her in late January 2003 at the Century City Mall. The man identified himself as a photographer and said he wanted to photograph her in a photo shoot related to a specific movie.

Johnson's roommate reported her missing February 17, two days after Johnson left their home saying that she was going to meet a photographer in Beverly Hills for an audition for a photo shoot related to a specific movie production. Johnson never returned home.

Butts said both the roommate and the witness identified the title of the movie, but he declined to give that information.

The witness who gave the tip said she followed the man's instructions to meet him on a street corner in West Hollywood. Her boyfriend, a former law enforcement officer, drove her to the location and waited in the car as she got out.

As the witness walked to the location, the man approached her and aggressively insisted that she go with him. She then signaled her boyfriend, who confronted the man and demanded he identify himself.

The man fled but was soon caught by the boyfriend, who frisked him for identification. He found none. The man was able to break free again, fled and was not caught.

Meanwhile, hotel security at the St. Regis Hotel reported to police Monday that a white 1996 Mazda Miata had been parked in their parking structure for several days. The LAPD ran the car's plates and informed Santa Monica police that they'd found a car they'd been looking for.

"We responded and summoned Los Angeles County Sheriff's crime lab personnel, who processed the car for evidence," Butts said.

Police interviewed the valet on duty February 16, the day Johnson's car was left at the hotel. According to Butts, the parking attendant said he saw a man park the car in the valet area that day.

"When he approached the subject to admonish him that the parking area was valet only," Butts said, "the subject stated, 'here's the key,' and tossed him the keys."

The valet said the man he saw that day strongly resembles the man depicted in the composite sketch.

Butts said that Santa Monica police detectives conducted a bloodhound search in Century City assisted by bloodhound handlers from the Ventura and Los Angeles County Sheriffs departments and Torrance police.

Detectives also have obtained surveillance video from the Century City Mall, where Johnson is thought to have met the photographer before her disappearance.

"We continue to search for Ms. Johnson, hoping that we will be able to return her to her family and loved ones," Butts said,

Johnson is described as a 5' 9" white female, weighing 140 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes. Police also released another photo of Johnson depicting blond hair. (Picture and description)

Butts asked for the public's assistance in identifying and finding the man in the composite drawing.