PRESS RELEASE
(Escambia County, Florida). On January 15, 2025, Dewitt Charles Echols was found guilty of Second Degree Murder by an Escambia County jury. On March 12, 2025, Echols was sentenced to the maximum penalty of life in Florida State Prison. The Honorable Judge Amy Brodersen presided over the trial and sentencing.
On August 23, 2021, deputies were called to the 10000-block of North Loop Road. Upon arrival they discovered 33 year old James Johnson dead with a gunshot wound sitting in the driver’s seat of a Chevrolet Malibu with the engine still running.
The investigation was handled by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant State Attorney, Alvin “Trey” Myers and Assistant State Attorney, Robert Little prosecuted the case on behalf of Ginger Bowden Madden, State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit of Florida. For further information, please contact Mr. Myers at (850) 595-4783.
