A Santa Rosa County jury has found former Okaloosa County corrections sergeant Curtis Marvin Johnson not guilty of second-degree murder in the August 2025 shooting death of his roommate, Barbara “Barbie” Dedert.
Johnson was acquitted Thursday, August 20, 2026, following a jury trial in Santa Rosa County Circuit Court. Court records show the jury returned a verdict of not guilty on the single count of second-degree murder with a weapon. The court subsequently entered an acquittal and closed the case.
The verdict brings an end to a case that began with a fatal shooting at a Milton-area home and the arrest of Johnson, then a longtime Okaloosa County corrections employee.
The 2025 shooting
On August 1, 2025, Santa Rosa County deputies responded to a home on Pinto Avenue after receiving a report of a shooting.
Deputies found Dedert, 41, dead inside the residence from multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators later determined she had been shot several times.
Johnson, 47 at the time, had called 911 and initially reported that Dedert had shot herself. According to the arrest affidavit, he told dispatchers that she was inside the home and later said she had “brought it on herself.”
When deputies arrived, Johnson was outside the residence and asked to be handcuffed.
Investigators later said Johnson’s account changed during questioning. He acknowledged shooting Dedert, telling investigators that the two had argued over finances and that Dedert had become aggressive and entered his bedroom.
Johnson told investigators he was afraid and decided to draw his firearm rather than physically confront her.
Investigators disputed portions of that account. A search of the residence found Dedert outside the threshold of Johnson’s bedroom, while the firearm was inside the bedroom. Investigators also recovered multiple shell casings in the hallway and documented multiple gunshot wounds.
Mid Bay News reported in August 2025 that Johnson had said he did not remember everything that happened after Dedert allegedly became aggressive, but ultimately acknowledged shooting her multiple times.
Johnson’s connection to Okaloosa County
At the time of the shooting, Johnson was a corrections sergeant with Okaloosa County.
He had worked for the county jail during two periods — from 2000 to 2005 and again from 2016 until 2025. He was promoted to sergeant in 2017.
Okaloosa County terminated Johnson shortly after his arrest.
Johnson and Dedert were also described by investigators as roommates and former colleagues. Johnson emphasized during the investigation that their relationship was platonic.
The case reaches a conclusion
Johnson pleaded not guilty after being charged with second-degree murder.
More than a year later, the case went before a jury.
The Santa Rosa County court docket shows the jury trial concluded August 20, 2026, with the jury returning a verdict of not guilty. The court entered an acquittal on the murder count and closed the case the same day.
The docket identifies Judge Clifton Alan Drake as the judge and Andrew Cronin Benson as Johnson’s attorney.
The acquittal means Johnson was not convicted of the charge in connection with Dedert’s death.
