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Man charged with attempted murder, returned to Knoxville after U.S. Marshals capture
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — A man facing multiple charges, including attempted second-degree murder, after a woman was assaulted in Knoxville has been booked into the Knox County Jail after he was captured by the U.S. Marshals Service in Meridian, Mississippi last week.
Court records state that Ethan Gage Johnston, 21, was booked into the Knox County Jail Friday morning on charges of attempted second-degree murder, rape, and fraudulent use of a credit or debit card up to $1,000. Johnston was captured on Wednesday, May 28 by the U.S. Marshal's Service in Meridian, Mississippi.
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On Sunday, May 25, the Knoxville Police Department asked for the public's help as they worked to identify a man accused of assaulting a woman at an apartment on Cumberland Avenue. A general sessions docket stated that a tipster said they had seen Johnston at the Half Barrel Pub before the incident happened. Because of the tip, officers obtained receipts and identified Johnston through his signature.
According to the docket, the victim was assaulted in the early morning hours of May 24. The narrative stated that she told officers she was strangled by a man she had brought back to her home. She said when she regained consciousness, she did not remember what happened but there were signs that a sexual assault had happened. She later walked to the hospital for treatment.
The officer noted in the docket that the woman had visible injuries, including bruising to her face and swelling that was consistent with strangulation. Additionally, the victim told the officer that her Costco credit card had been stolen and a purchase had been made on the site 'OnlyFans.'
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Officers also spoke with a witness at the Casey's on Cumberland Avenue, who said they remembered Johnston right after the assault. The docket stated that the witness said Johnston told them he was trying to get to the bus station, and when they suggested he take an Uber, he said he wasn't able to because he spent all of his money at the Half Barrel Pub. The witness also said Johnston had blood on his hands.
Before Johnston was captured, Knoxville Police said he may have been traveling to an unknown city in either Georgia or South Carolina. He was later located while traveling on a Greyhound bus by members of the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Task Force.
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