THE DARK SIDE OF IOWA
William Johnson
#0103935
Full Name: William Cotalious Johnson
DOB: February 2, 1928
Charge: 1st degree murder
County: Des Moines
City: Burlington
Current Status: Deceased
Date of Crime: September 18, 1976
Victim: Hobart Oscar Sharp
DOB: February 2, 1928
Charge: 1st degree murder
County: Des Moines
City: Burlington
Current Status: Deceased
Date of Crime: September 18, 1976
Victim: Hobart Oscar Sharp
A shooting in a downtown tavern in Burlington on September 18, 1976, left one man dead and another facing murder charges. Hobart Oscar Sharp, 50, was pronounced dead at the hospital after he was shot at the Dee Jays Tavern on South Main Street at 2:27 p.m.
About 30 minutes later, police arrested William Cotalious Johnson, 48, in the basement of his home and charged him with murder. Police said William matched the description of Hobart’s assailant given by several witnesses in the crowded tavern. Police said a pistol, believed to be the murder weapon, was recovered.
William was convicted of first-degree murder and was serving a life sentence when he died in April 2016 of natural causes from lung cancer at the age of 88.
About 30 minutes later, police arrested William Cotalious Johnson, 48, in the basement of his home and charged him with murder. Police said William matched the description of Hobart’s assailant given by several witnesses in the crowded tavern. Police said a pistol, believed to be the murder weapon, was recovered.
William was convicted of first-degree murder and was serving a life sentence when he died in April 2016 of natural causes from lung cancer at the age of 88.