A word was carved into his forehead. Nobody has ever explained why, or who did it.
On the morning of June 17, 2021, dismembered body parts began turning up across Northeast Minneapolis. By the time the search ended weeks later, 36-year-old Adam Richard Johnson's remains had been found scattered across four separate locations in the city. Five years on, no one has been arrested.
The First Discoveries
The night before the first remains were found, a resident in the St. Anthony West neighborhood heard what sounded like someone smashing against their window. He and his dog checked the property but found nothing unusual. The next morning, his neighbor discovered garbage bags containing human remains. Just down the street, behind the Ukrainian American Community Center, a woman found a leg, cut into pieces and left in plain view. Police soon found additional remains nearby along University Avenue.
The Park Bench
Five days later, on the morning of June 22, a man walked past a bench along a busy riverside trail near Franklin Avenue and West River Parkway at 6:15 a.m. and saw nothing. Half an hour later, a jogger on the same path found a human head resting on the bench.
Police confirmed to Johnson's family that the head was his, and that the word “PERV” had been carved into his forehead. It had also been frozen after death — with temperatures that week well above freezing, meaning the killer had preserved it somewhere else before placing it in a public location during the trail's busiest morning hours.
What Investigators Believe
A forensic psychologist who reviewed the case's public details told KARE 11 the pattern strongly suggested an extremely personal, rage-driven killing rather than a random act. He noted that scattering remains across multiple public locations is unusual — most people who dismember a body do so to hide it, not display it — and interpreted it as a deliberate attempt to dehumanize and send a message. He also said nothing in Johnson's history pointed to organized crime, despite early online rumors to that effect.
More of Johnson's remains were recovered from the Mississippi River in early July, in a fourth location. As of the most recent reporting, not all of his body has ever been found.
Who Adam Was
Those who knew Johnson described him as a devoted father when sober, but he had struggled for years with addiction, homelessness, and mental illness. Just days before his death, he had attempted to check himself into a hospital over suicidal thoughts. His toxicology results at the time of his death were negative for illicit drugs. Family and former partners have said publicly he had no known enemies.
A Frustrated Family
Johnson's family has spoken publicly about difficulties getting information and support from investigators in the case's early months, and the FBI was brought in to assist the Minneapolis Police Department by that October. Crime Stoppers of Minnesota offered a $1,000 reward for information, with Johnson's family adding an additional $2,500.
Where the Case Stands Now
On the case's fifth anniversary in 2026, Minneapolis Police confirmed to reporters that the investigation remains open and active, though little new information has been released publicly since 2021. Police have emphasized that even small, seemingly insignificant tips could be the piece that moves the case forward.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Minneapolis Police Department or Crime Stoppers of Minnesota.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has anyone ever been arrested for Adam Johnson's murder?
No. As of the case's fifth anniversary in 2026, no arrests have been made and no suspect has been publicly named.
Why was “PERV” carved into his forehead?
It hasn't been officially explained. Investigators and outside experts have interpreted it as a deliberate, personal message from someone who likely knew Johnson.
Was this connected to organized crime?
Investigators have said there's no evidence tying the case to gangs or drug cartels, despite early online speculation.
Is this the same Adam Johnson who died in a hockey accident?
No. That refers to a different person entirely — a professional hockey player who died in a 2023 on-ice incident in the UK. This case involves Adam Richard Johnson of Minneapolis.