March 2024 Murder Suspect Sentenced to Life Imprisonment

January 24, 2025 8:30 AM

Media Contact:

PIO, Corvallis Police Department

(541) 766-6937/ cpdpio@corvallisoregon.gov

MARCH 2024 MURDER SUSPECT SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT

Yesterday, January 23, 2025, just over ten months after the murder of Vonetta Johnson and attempted murder of her sister Ciara Page, 54-year-old Jerry Bruce Mitchell Sr. plead guilty to the following charges:

-  Murder in the First Degree Constituting Domestic Violence

-  Attempted Murder in the First Degree

-  Unlawful Use of a Weapon

-  Felon in Possession of a Firearm

-  Animal Abuse in the First Degree

Mitchell received life imprisonment, with possibility of release to post-prison supervision after a minimum 30 years confinement at the Department of Corrections.

This sentencing culminates almost a year’s worth of investigative work by the Corvallis Police Detectives Unit in cooperation with the Benton County District Attorney’s Office. We hope this sentencing can bring some closure to the friends and family of Vonetta Johnson.

Original press release below.

Corvallis Police Investigating Fatal Shooting on NW Highland Dr.

On Saturday, March 9^th, at approximately 7:21pm, the Corvallis Police Department responded to a report of a shooting at 1927 NW Highland Dr. Officers arrived and found 34-year-old Vonetta Johnson of Corvallis deceased on the kitchen floor, succumbing to an apparent gunshot wound to the head. Alongside her lay her sister, 24-year-old Ciara Page of Eugene, who sustained serious injuries to her shoulder and head from an apparent gunshot wound. Ciara Page was rushed to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center and continues to be in stable, albeit serious condition. Vonetta Johnson’s two minor children were in the residence at the time but unharmed. 

During transit to the hospital, officers were able to gather crucial information from Ciara Page, identifying the suspect as Vonetta Johnson’s boyfriend, 53-year-old Jerry Bruce Mitchell Sr. of Long Beach, California. Leveraging several technologies, officers successfully tracked Jerry Mitchell Sr. traveling south near Medford at approximately 10:48 p.m. Subsequently, a temporary warrant was issued, leading to his location and arrest by the California Highway Patrol in a white Ford SUV following a 45-minute pursuit that at times exceeded 100 miles per hour. Mitchell Sr. was apprehended shortly after midnight and has been lodged at the Siskiyou County Jail pending extradition arrangements. An arrest warrant for Jerry Mitchell Sr. has been filed with the Benton County Circuit Court for the following charges:

Murder in the 1^st Degree ORS 163.107, Two Counts
Attempted Murder in the 1^st Degree ORS 164.405
Unlawful Use of a Weapon ORS 166.220, Two Counts
Possession of Weapons by Certain Felons ORS 166.270