Suspect arrested in 1976 Columbia homicide case

The Columbia Police Department issued this press release at 1:15 a.m. Sept. 29, 2009:

*This article has been updated to reflect Rebecca Doisy's correct birth date.

Investigators with the Columbia Police Department were contacted on September 28, 2009 by law enforcement officers in Georgia. Detectives learned that a suspect was in custody, arrested on a warrant that was obtained in 1985 for a Columbia homicide which occurred in 1976. The warrant was issued on November 25, 1985.

The victim in the homicide, identified as Rebecca A. Doisy, was reported missing by her sister on August 7, 1976. Rebecca was 23 years old at the time of her disappearance (date of birth July 4, 1953.). She was last seen alive on August 5, 1976. At the time of her disappearance, Rebecca Doisy was a part-time waitress at Ernie’s Steakhouse.

During the nine year investigation, a warrant was obtained for the suspect in this case, for second-degree murder. Once the warrant was issued, a nationwide search was conducted. The suspect was not located until now. The suspect in this case is Johnny Wright, whose date of birth is May 20, 1944. He is in custody in Lawrenceville, Georgia, at this time. He was arrested there on September 23, 2009. Wright’s bond amount is $100,000.00.