Remains of Wisconsin woman found in Minnesota, charges filed

BLAINE, Minn. (AP) — The remains of a Wisconsin woman missing for more than three years have been found north of the Twin Cities a week after a suspect was charged with killing her, state officials said.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice said Monday the remains of 50-year-old Beth Johnson, of Nelson, were recovered in Blaine.

Last week prosecutors charged 48-year-old Randall Merrick, of Rochester, with first-degree intentional homicide, domestic abuse and hiding a corpse.

Merrick is being held in the Olmsted County jail pending extradition to Wisconsin.

The criminal complaint alleges that Merrick killed Johnson sometime between Christmas Day of 2016 and March 12, 2017 in Buffalo County, Wisconsin and buried or hid her body, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported.

Johnson and Merrick dated in the past, but at the time of Johnson’s disappearance, they were roommates and Johnson acted as a caregiver for Merrick, according to the complaint.

Authorities have not been specific on the how and when Johnson’s body was found.

Online court records do not list an attorney for Merrick who is due to make a court appearance Wednesday.