Beaver Falls Man Charged with Homicide In Death of Sharon Benyo

Story by Beaver County Radio News/Program Director Frank Sparks

7:01 PM – October 9, 2021

(Beaver, Pa.) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver are reporting via release that they have arrested 68-year-old John Wesley Johnson Jr of Beaver Falls with homicide in connection with the death of 46- year old Sharon Benyo.
Benyo’s body was found Wednesday morning, October 6, 2021, around 8:15 AM when utilities workers working in the area found her body about 150 feet off of Route 51 in Chippewa Township. Troopers stated that it is not known how long Benyo’s body had been there. Chippewa Township Police secured the scene and called in Pa State Police who took over the investigation. A forensics team processed the crime scene and Troopers are now the lead agency in the investigation.
Benyo had recently been released from a state prison and was trying to get her life in order according to multiple people. Benyo was previously in trouble in Beaver County back in 2019 when she bit a Beaver County Prison Guard at the Beaver County Jail

Beaver County Coroner David J. Gabauer ruled Benyo’s death as a homicide on Wednesday night. Gabauer said that Benyo died from two gunshot wounds to the head.

Troopers reported in the release that early Saturday, October 9, 2021, they developed enough information to secure a charge of criminal homicide against Johnson. Johnson was arrested at his home without incident and taken to the Beaver County Jail pending formal court proceedings.