Fayette woman charged in 2021 infant’s death back in Boone County Jail

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Fayette woman charged with murder for the death of an 8-month-old girl in 2021 is back in the Boone County Jail after she was released by mistake.

According to jail records, Jennifer Johnson, 49, of Columbia, was booked into the Boone County Jail around 5 p.m. on Saturday. She was arrested and jailed in Pulaski County, Arkansas, on June 26.

She was extradited to Boone County after an arrest warrant was issued for Johnson in June, following her release on parole from a Missouri prison.

Online records show she was sent to the Arkansas Department of Corrections. A spokesperson for the Arkansas DOC said in an email there was not anyone by her name in their custody.

Johnson is charged with second-degree murder and first-degree endangering the welfare of a child for the death of Hannah Kent in 2021.

Boone County Prosecutor Roger Johnson told ABC 17 News in June that this is the first time he has seen something like this happen and is working with the Department of Corrections to address the issue.

Columbia police arrested Jennifer Johnson in April 2021, after being called to a home in the 1000 block of Elleta Boulevard in Columbia. 

According to court documents, police were dispatched to the Women's and Children’s Hospital in Columbia on the morning of April 18, 2021, where they were informed that an 8-month-old, Hannah Kent, who was under her care, had died.

Jennifer Johnson allegedly told police that she last saw the infant alive at 2:15 a.m. after giving her a bottle, the probable cause statement says.

A court hearing is set for July 14 at the Boone County Courthouse.