Murder suspect arrested after 45-day manhunt in Florida

Isabelle Rose Johnson, a 38-year-old woman wanted for the murder of Jason Coulthart, was arrested on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Jackson County, Florida, ending a 45-day manhunt. The Walton County Sheriff's Office confirmed Johnson was taken into custody without incident at a home in Cottondale, about 60 miles northeast of Freeport, where Coulthart's body was discovered.

Coulthart, 43, was reported missing on May 24 after he was last seen leaving the College Condominiums in Niceville. His remains were found on June 25 in a shallow grave on a property off Sunset Lane in Freeport. A DNA match confirmed his identity in July. According to authorities, Coulthart was found with a zip tie around his neck, and the grave was covered with concrete, with a vehicle parked over it.

Johnson had been charged with murder and was the subject of a multistate search spanning Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. The Walton County Sheriff's Office described her as a "master manipulator" who used multiple aliases, including "Harley," "Jessica Elaine Bowman," and "Jessica Dowdy," to evade capture. The investigation involved more than 40 subpoenas and over 20 search warrants.