In March of 2023, the quiet community of Natural Bridge Station, Virginia, was shaken by the disappearance and subsequent death of Stormie Markland, a 38-year-old Caucasian woman. Her family grew concerned and reported her missing on March 20, 2023, after she failed to return home. The last time she was seen alive was on the evening of March 19th, leaving a local country store with her ex-boyfriend, Leland David Johnson.
Two days after her disappearance, on March 22, Markland’s body was discovered by individuals walking in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests along Hoppers Creek Road. It was apparent to investigators that she had died under violent circumstances. An autopsy later confirmed these suspicions, revealing that the cause of death was two gunshot wounds.
Suspicion quickly fell upon Leland David Johnson, age 44, who was not only Markland's ex-boyfriend but also the father of her young son.
Johnson was brought in for questioning and subsequently arrested and charged with her murder. Initially, Johnson denied his involvement, but evidence gathered by the Virginia State Police, including security camera footage that tracked his truck's movements and witness testimony, contradicted his account of the events.
As the legal proceedings unfolded, Leland David Johnson was indicted on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. In a turn of events, on March 4, 2024, Johnson pleaded guilty to the charge of first-degree murder in Rockbridge County Circuit Court. Following his plea, a sentencing hearing was scheduled, with the first-degree murder charge carrying a potential sentence of 20 years to life in prison.
