Courts
Rochester man pleads “not guilty” in death of western Wisconsin woman
A Rochester man accused of killing and burying a Buffalo County woman about three years ago pleads ‘not guilty’ to homicide and hiding a corpse.
Randall Merrick appeared in an Alma courtroom on Friday.
Police believe Merrick killed 50-year-old Beth Johnson of Nelson, sometime during a three-month period starting on Christmas Day of 2016.
Johnson’s remains were found buried in Blaine, Minnesota near the Twin Cities less than a month ago, shortly after Merrick was arrested for her death.
Merrick remains jailed under a $1 million cash bond.
His next hearing in the case is set for September 28th.
Johnson and Merrick were roommates at the time Johnson disappeared.
Johnson acted as a caregiver for Merrick.