True Crime All The Time — Episode 459: Shawn Johnson

Release Date: November 10, 2025
Hosts: Mike Ferguson and Mike Gibson
Podcast Theme: Deep dives into both famous and lesser-known true crime cases, with a serious investigative approach but light-hearted banter between the hosts.

Episode Overview

This episode unpacks the mysterious and brutal 2003 murder of Shawn Johnson, an outgoing stagehand from Atlanta, who was killed after a work trip to New Orleans. The hosts take listeners through Johnson's background, the bizarre and ritualistic-looking crime scene, and the investigation that followed, ultimately revealing the truth behind the murder and the fates of those involved.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

Shawn Johnson: Background & New Orleans Trip

• Shawn Johnson: Born in 1968, Atlanta resident, father of one, described as fun-loving and emotionally present by his son and girlfriend.

  • Quote: “Some things I miss about my dad, you could always count on him for a good time, no matter what it was.” — (07:04)

• Work Trip Details:

  • Shawn traveled to New Orleans in July 2003 for a Microsoft convention as a stagehand.
  • Loved the vibrant atmosphere; extended stay to enjoy nightlife, including Bourbon Street and French Quarter bars.

Discovery of the Crime

• Body Found: On July 20, hotel housekeeper found Shawn dead in the Jacuzzi, water bloody, the room in disarray. (12:08)

  • Notable clues: laceration on head, but cause of death was ultimately drowning.

• Bizarre Scene Details:

  • Bible pages torn and stuck to surfaces after being soaked, a rag doll with a dog collar and moss, numerous champagne bottles, broken glass.
  • Suspicion of a ritualistic or cult connection due to these objects.
    • Quote: “That’s very strange. It almost makes it seem as though… maybe this murder was committed by someone who was extremely religious. But then would that person really rip the pages out of a Bible?” — Mike (13:53)

Early Leads and Theories

• Initial Suspicions: Not a straightforward robbery despite the missing money — scene seemed staged or symbolic.

• Unique Aspects:

  • Group of four (2 men, 2 women) seen accompanying Shawn in gothic attire per hotel surveillance.
  • Rag doll identified as a “familiar” object favored within the local Goth community.
    • “It’s an object that an individual will hold in close personal connection as though it were a living being…” — Detective Winston Harbin (23:32)

• Noise Complaint (7:15 AM):

  • Neighbor reported hearing “I am the Lord and you are my servant,” punching, and shouting prior to Shawn’s death. (24:00)

Unraveling the Group: Nicknames & Confessions

• Group’s Street Names: Deirdre (“Deirdre”), Carla (“Never”), her boyfriend (“Worry”), Ben — all using aliases.

• Deirdre Comes Forward: After seeing herself on TV, Deirdre says she left before violence, corroborates “Never” (Carla) was close with the rag doll; helps identify group.

• Tipsters Help Police:

  • Identifications and witness testimony begin to link “Never” as Carla Frock, “Worry” as Chris Lang (or Lane), Ben as Benjamin Anthony.

• Potential Motive:

  • Testimony suggests the plan (by “Worry”) was to “roll” (rob) Shawn — he was a fun, generous out-of-towner buying rounds and inviting strangers back to his suite.

  • Quote: “Carla… was potentially used as the bait to set up the robbery. Worry and Carla, the apparent ringleaders, were still unaccounted for.” — Mike (33:04)

The Truth from the Participants

• Carla’s Changing Story: Initially claims kidnapping and Mafia involvement, alleges “Worry” forced her, calls herself a witness. Later, under pressure, denies participating. (34:31–39:15)

• Ben’s Confession (42:30):

  • Ben describes what happened in the hotel: he, Shawn, and Carla bathing in champagne, Bible pages torn out of boredom, then Worry attacks — hitting Shawn with bottles then forcing his head under water until he drowns.

    • Quote: “Ben explained he was the one who ripped the Bible pages out… just sheer boredom.” — Mike (44:30)
    • “Sean and Carla started getting physical… The next thing Ben saw was Worry… hit him in the head with the bottle… Worry then forced Sean’s head underwater and held him there.” — (45:02)

  • Carla (per Ben) was “giddy and excited” during the murder: “Like, happy and laughing about it… they’re like, 'Don’t worry. We’ve done this before. It’s all right now.'” — Ben, quoted by Mike (46:51)

• No Ritual After All: The “ritualistic” details were accidental (rag doll forgotten, Bible pages glued in boredom) — not related to cult activity.

Apprehending “Worry” (Chris Lane)

• Chris Lane Identified & Arrested:
  • Tracked and arrested in Florida after tips from acquaintances and a stakeout at Denny’s. (52:26–54:32)
  • Chris blames Carla, claims to have blacked out after heavy drinking, alleges Carla killed Shawn (discredited by testimony and forensics).

Trials, Outcomes, and Aftermath

• Charges and Sentences:

  • Carla Frock (“Never”): Charged with second-degree murder, convicted of negligent homicide after hurricane-delayed trial; sentenced to five years. (56:28–58:32)
  • Ben Anthony: Pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact, sentenced to four years.
  • Chris Lane (“Worry”): Pleaded guilty to manslaughter and robbery, 40-year sentence; committed suicide in prison in 2013.

• Hurricane Katrina's Impact:

  • Case delayed, evidence lost or destroyed, witnesses dispersed.

• Post-release Developments:

  • Carla re-arrested in 2023 for theft and drug charges, further charged for chemical endangerment of a child after her child brought drug paraphernalia to school.

Reflections on the Case

• Hosts’ Conclusions:

  • Shawn was targeted as an out-of-town “mark” by self-described “predators.”

  • Uncertainty remains over full extent of Carla and Ben’s involvement, but possible they had more of a role than convictions suggest.

  • Quote: “When it comes down to it, this is a very sad case. You have this very outgoing person… and he had no idea that his fun night out would put him in the path of these kind of predators.” — Mike (63:24)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Bourbon Street danger:

  • “New Orleans has a… just has a different type of vibe. You know, there is Bourbon street, there’s a lot of bars. I once lost my debit card at a work conference on Bourbon Street.” — Mike (05:41)

• On the ritualistic scene:

  • “What do you make, I think, if you’re investigators, of these pages of the bible plastered all over, what’s with this rag doll?” — Mike (14:43)

• On group nicknames:

  • “I wonder if Worry and Never were actually known as Never Worry.” — Gibson (26:17)
  • “Who’s coming up with these names? There is a lot of names here and they’re all strange.” — Mike (30:59)

• On investigating street-named suspects:

  • “I think it’s hard, maybe not impossible, but you’re making out warrants and stuff. Who you after? Never and worry. Okay, we’re going to need a little bit more than that.” — Mike (30:46)

• Ben Anthony's matter-of-fact confession:

  • “He had no explanation [for tearing out Bible pages] other than just sheer boredom.” — Mike (44:30)
  • “Ben also claimed Carla… was not troubled by the murder. He was asked what Carla was doing during the attack. Ben said she seemed happy. Like, happy and laughing about it.” — Mike (46:51)

• On Katrina’s impact:

  • “CBS reported in October 2005 that prosecutors didn’t know whether the champagne bottle used as the murder weapon was destroyed or buried by floodwaters.” — Mike (57:27)
  • “A lot of evidence was lost due to flooding, which affected numerous cases.” — Gibson / Mike (57:15)

Key Timestamps

• 05:11 – Introduction to Shawn Johnson’s murder
• 12:08 – Shawn’s body discovered; bizarre scene described
• 14:43 – Bible pages, rag doll, and hints at ritualism
• 24:00 – Neighbor hears “I am the Lord and you are my servant”
• 26:17–30:59 – Uncovering the group’s identities (“Worry,” “Never,” etc.)
• 33:04–34:37 – Robbery plot emerges; Carla’s shifting story
• 42:30–47:14 – Ben Anthony’s confession and facts of the murder
• 52:26–54:32 – Chris Lane identified and apprehended
• 56:28–58:32 – Trials, verdicts, sentences, and Katrina’s effect
• 61:07–61:42 – Carla’s later arrests, child endangerment
• 63:24–64:57 – Hosts reflect on the tragedy, lessons, and unresolved questions

Tone and Host Dynamic

The episode balances serious investigative work and somber analysis with characteristic humor and banter. The hosts use dry wit to comment on the surreality of the case details (e.g., street names and rag dolls) while emphasizing the tragedy and senselessness of the crime. They reflect on justice, culpability, and the randomness with which lives intersect in such true crime cases.

Summary Takeaway

An initially baffling, almost ritualistic seeming murder turns out to be a callous—if opportunistic—robbery gone wrong, with suspects who hide behind shifting stories and street names. The case offers insight into the vulnerabilities of strangers in tourist cities, the difficulties of solving crimes involving transient or marginal groups, and the resilience—and failures—of the justice system, especially when disrupted by disasters like Hurricane Katrina. The fate of the key players post-prison suggests a cycle of crime and consequence is hard to break.

For True Crime All The Time fans and newcomers alike, this episode serves up a gripping, detailed journey through a lesser-known but extraordinarily strange and tragic crime, filtered through the hosts’ trademark blend of seriousness and levity.