MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas — Human remains found in the Sam Houston National Forest earlier this month have been identified as Felicia Johnson, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and JP Wayne Mack.
The search for the man charged with killing her continues.
Johnson, 24, was from San Diego and vanished during a trip to Houston in April 2022.
Her father told us he is relieved and grateful that she was found.
"I'm just glad that my baby is going to be home in some way shape or form shortly," her father Kevin Johnson said from California. "That's big, that's huge, some people never get the closure."
Johnson was first notified about the remains when they were found on Feb. 7 along with some of his daughter's jewelry. They were sent for DNA and dental record analysis, according to the sheriff's office.
"It is with a heavy heart that we report dental records have confirmed that the human remains are that of missing person Felicia Johnson of California," the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. "Our hearts go out to the Johnson family and friends and we hope this brings them some closure."
Felicia's father got the news Monday from the Montgomery County Medical Examiner's Office.
He told KHOU 11's Brittany Ford that he's waiting for additional information from Houston police, who are leading the investigation.
The remains were found by a TxDOT worker.
"I feel blessed I feel humbled, just appreciate the TxDOT worker that found that bag. That's my daughter popping back from the grave for her revenge, for her justice that is what that is," Kevin told us. "Now everything is going to come to surface."
He plans to honor his daughter with a service once her remains are released and he can take her home to California.
Felicia Johnson timeline
Houston police charged Chukweubuka Nwobodo, 28, with murder and tampering with evidence in connection with Johnson's death.
Johnson's cell phone, found in Bear Creek Park, helped lead detectives to Nwobodo.
KHOU 11 News dug into the court documents to put together a timeline of events since Johnson's disappearance.
On April 16 at 2:56 a.m., Johnson is last seen at the Intercontinental Hotel in the Medical Center. She got into an Uber that HPD said was ordered by Nwobodo. Detectives said he responded to an ad Johnson placed online. The Uber took Johnson to Nwobodo’s old address on Windchase. Then, he picked her up and took her to his apartment on South Richmond, according to police.
On April 16 and 17, Nwobodo is seen on surveillance footage with a bandage wrap on his right hand while at Walmart where he bought trash bags, a flashlight and towels. According to court documents. He also purchased a mechanical saw from Walmart and Home Depot.
An hour later, his car is seen on surveillance video leaving the complex, and at 5:12 a.m., Johnson’s phone connects with a cell tower near where her family finds it in Bear Creek Park later that day.
The next two days, HPD said receipts show Nwobodo took out money and purchased supplies, including towels and trash bags. His internet searches included things like “most forested part of Houston.”
On May 13, detectives got search warrants for his car and apartment. Investigators found “very strong support” of Johnson’s DNA in his apartment and a gun, knife and shovel in his car. Nwobodo was taken into custody during a traffic stop, but was released without charges but police seized his cell phone.
Court documents said the cell phone contained a photograph of a dismembered female in addition to three photos of deceased individuals. The individuals in the photos were not identified and no metadata was associated with them.
On Feb. 7, a TxDOT worker found Johnson's remains.
Anyone with information on Nwobodo’s whereabouts, or on this case, is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.