Brentwood man accused in fatal hit-and-run

ROSTRAVER TOWNSHIP - Maroon paint chips and small fragments of a car grill and header panel were the only pieces of evidence Rostraver Township police had to go on to investigate a fatal hit and run accident in September.

But thanks to anonymous callers phoning in tips and hours of research and forensic lab results, police arrested a Pittsburgh man Friday morning who they allege struck Augusta 'Gussie' Waddell with his vehicle and drug her body more than 1,200 feet down Fells Church Road before fleeing the scene.

James Parker Johnson, 51, of 231 Wainright Ave., in the Brentwood area of Pittsburgh, is accused of striking Waddell, 75, on the evening of Sept. 17 while she was walking along the dark stretch of Fells Church Road. Waddell missed the return bus from a church gathering at the Fells Methodist Church and was walking back to her home in Duquesne.

Parker was arrested at South Hills Auto Service in Baldwin, where he is a part-time auto body repairman. Police contend Johnson went to the body shop two days after the Sept. 17 incident and fixed the damage to the front end of his maroon Dodge Aries.

Gloria McAllister, a longtime friend of Waddells, said the arrest has opened up wounds for family and friends.

'We now have to start healing all over again,' said McAllister, whose husband serves as pastor of Bethlehem Temple Apostolic Church in Duquesne. Waddell was a deaconess at the church and beloved friend to many.

'She is still sorely missed,' said McAllister, who had known Waddell for more than 40 years.

During a press conference Friday afternoon, Rostraver Police Chief Greg Resetar offered the following account of the events that led to Johnson's arrest.

Police learned Waddell was walking along the roadway with the assistance of a quad cane. Resetar said it is believed Johnson was traveling faster than the 35-mph speed limit in the residential area and struck the elderly woman. Her long blue raincoat stuck to the front of the car, and as Johnson continued driving he allegedly dragged her for nearly 1,274-feet.

When Waddell fell off the car, it is believed she was dragged along the passenger side for an additional 185-feet, until her raincoat ripped away and she fell to the ground.

The lower part of her raincoat was found about one half mile from where her body was found at the entrance of the Belle Vernon Area High School.

'The operator stopped at the intersection and removed the clothing from his vehicle,' Resetar said.

There were no eyewitnesses to the actual hit and run, and police were left to determine how the incident occurred with small bits of physical evidence.

Resetar said the department received numerous anonymous telephone calls and assistance from other police, which led to the break. On Sept. 28, Resetar said they received information from the Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers of a white male driving a late 80s maroon Dodge Aries. The caller said the car had damage to the hood, but repairs were made to the car on Sept. 21.

Police soon learned Johnson was allegedly the driver of the car. Resetar said in-house records indicate he has ties to the Rostraver area and has resided at times with a female acquaintance who lives along Rostraver Road. The residence is 3.9 miles from the crime scene, police said.

Johnson is also on file at the Rostraver police department and suspected of wrecking his car while intoxicated and fleeing on foot. He reported the vehicle stolen the day after that incident, according to police.

A search warrant was obtained on Sept. 30 and the 1987 Dodge Aries was seized.

Johnson allegedly claimed the damage to the car resulted when he struck a deer the day after Waddell's death.

Resetar said their investigation showed Johnson ordered body parts for his car on Sept. 18, the day after Waddell was hit and killed.

Resetar said all forensic results linked Johnson to the crime.

Johnson was arraigned Friday before District Justice Charles Christner in West Newton and remanded to the Westmoreland County Jail in lieu of $250,000 straight cash bond. He faces a preliminary hearing March 26 at 11:15 a.m.