News 12 First at Five, December 9, 2009

BARNWELL, S.C. --- A Barnwell County woman is dead, and her husband is now behind bars charged with her murder. The sheriff says Samuel Johnican killed his wife before driving across two states to try to escape.

Behind the crime scene tape at a Barnwell County home lived a mother, father and their three children. But early Tuesday afternoon that family's life would change forever.

"Eight hours before, the children had both parents when they left to go to school.When they returned home, they won't have either," said Sheriff Carroll. Barnwell County investigators say family members found 37-year old Denise Johnican dead inside the home. The person accused of killing the aspiring nurse was missing and he was her husband. "We immediately started an investigation we determined Samuel Bruce Johnican was a person of interest," said Sheriff Carroll.

Investigators believe after Samuel Johnican killed his wife, he drove a 1998 silver Honda Accord from their Barnwell home across two states into Morgan County, Ga. They say after a nationwide search for the car, Georgia deputies helped them catch their man.

Family members say they don't know why the husband and father would kill his own wife. But now, this family man will have to answer the question in front of a judge.

"The City of Barnwell was a big help, SLED..a joint effort and I thank everybody that helped us," said Sheriff Carroll.

This is the first murder investigation this year for the Barnwell Sheriff's Office. There was a murder back in August, however, that was in Blackville city limits. That investigation was headed up by Blackville Police and SLED, not the Barnwell County Sheriff's Office.

The Coroner's Office tells News 12 the cause of death was severe head injury due to blunt force trauma.