Family, Friends Of Woman Found In North Canadian River Speak Out

A woman whose body was found Friday in the North Canadian River in Shawnee is identified.

Investigators say Casie Michelle Johnson's death is "suspicious.”

Police have already questioned one person about Casie Johnson's death, but at this point, no arrest has been made.

The 25-year-old leaves behind an 8-year-daughter, and right now, family and close friends are trying to figure out exactly what happened.

“It's still kind of overwhelming, still kind of hard to believe,” Casie's cousin, Chris Yarbrough said.

As far as family members know, Casie went down to the North Canadian River near her home last Tuesday evening to meet with friends.

“Next thing we know, she's found dead at the river,” Yarbrough said.

8/11/2014 Related Story: Shawnee Police Identify Body Found In North Canadian River

Casie's body wasn't found until more than three days later, about a half mile east of the South Beard Bridge.

“It appears that the body was probably 100 yards or so from where they were actually hanging out,” Shawnee Police Department Detective, Jason Crouch said.

Crouch says they contacted the two people that were with Casie last. The two led investigators to the North Canadian River.

“These three people had gone down to the river to go swimming," said Crouch. "There was some drinking involved.”

“I was told that they all like to go out there on the beach, sit out there, have a good time, drink a few beers," said a close friend of the family. "But she always came home. She had a little girl to raise."

The family friend, who says she's known Casie since she was a child, did not want to be identified but was adamant about the possibility of foul play.

“Something went wrong. Something went wrong. We may never know,” she said. “I hope so. I hope they find out.”

8/8/2014 Related Story: Police Investigate After Body Found In North Canadian River

“It's all a shock really," said Yarbrough. "You hear about stuff like this all the time, but you don't think it's going to happen to you or your family, and then it does.”

Shawnee Detective Jason Crouch told News 9 the preliminary autopsy did not show anything suspicious, but the investigation is ongoing.

Police are looking for a second person for questioning.