WEST VALLEY CITY — A $10,000 reward was announced Monday for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who stabbed a volunteer worker at a church food pantry.
Jill Johnson, 61, was in fair condition Monday afternoon and expected to be released from LDS Hospital within the next day or two, according to police. Johnson was stabbed four times by a man who demanded her credit cards and PIN numbers while she was working at the Granger Community Christian Church, 3800 S. 2640 West, just before 6 p.m. on Jan. 3.
The attack was the second brutal robbery in the city in a little more than two weeks. On Dec. 16, a man forced his way into the home of 85-year-old Georgina Anderson and severely beat her before robbing her.
Doctors weren't sure at first if Anderson was going to live, according to police. Amazingly, she has been released from the hospital and is now receiving care at a convalescent home, said West Valley police Capt. Steve Sandquist.
Two weeks ago, police and Meadow Gold Dairy announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Anderson's attacker. Now, a second reward has been offered for information in the attack on Johnson.
West Valley Police Chief Buzz Nielsen said it was the "duty and right" of people in the community who have information about these crimes to step forward.
"We cannot have enough information," he said. "It's really important we get the community involved."
Nielsen used words like "nonsense" and "atrocious" to describe the two recent incidents.
"Society should be alarmed," he said.
As of Monday, detectives said they did not have any strong leads in either case. They were still looking for Johnson's white 1990 Cadillac Fleetwood with Utah license plate 209 ZFJ, which also was stolen.
Detective Troy Johnson said Jill Johnson (no relation) "thought there was something about the victim she recognized." The man also appeared to have some previous knowledge of the church, he said.
Nielsen said the man needed to be taken off the streets and urged members of the public to "do the right thing.
"He's a bad person and someone knows his whereabouts," he said.
Detective Johnson said Monday there was just a slight chance the two attacks were committed by the same person even though the way each criminal operated was different. Still, he said, nothing had been ruled out.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 840-4000.
E-mail: preavy@desnews.com