October 25, 2015

UPDATE – Case Solved

On March 12, 2018  Johnny Wayne Johnson pleaded guilty to the 2012 murder of Sherry Lee Prather. Johnson was sentenced to 20.4 years in prison.

Though no motive has ever been established, Sherry’s family expressed relief that Johnson would be off the streets.

The family made it a point to thank all those that helped along the way in their search for justice.

UPDATE – Arrest Made

On November 19, 2016 the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office arrested Johnny Wayne Johnson for the 2012 murder of Sherry Lee Prather.

Johnson was the man seen on camera giving Sherry a ride from the bar. Johnson is currently in the Duval County Jail awaiting trial.

Detectives are seeking additional information from witnesses. Please contact the Sheriff’s Office if you know anything about this case.

Sherry Prather, 43, can be seen in a surveillance video climbing onto the back of a motorcycle in the Boots & Bottles Tavern parking lot on New Berlin Road in Jacksonville, Florida around 2:20am on October 12, 2012.

Sherry’s remains were found a month later in the woods off Braddock Road about 15 miles away from where she was last seen.

The man Sherry was seen leaving with told investigators that he dropped Sherry off a short time after leaving the bar. Detectives need the help of the public to solve this case.

Sherry’s family has created a memorial Facebook page, Justice for Sherry, and have vowed to never stop searching for Sherry’s killer.

If you have any information, no matter how small you think it is, about Sherry Prather’s murder, please call the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at (904) 630-2172. To remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at (866) 845-TIPS.

You may be eligible for a reward of up to $3,000 if your Crime Stoppers tip leads to an arrest in this case.