A Rock Island man is headed to prison for 20 years in connection with the murder of an 84-year old man.
T.J. Johnson was on trial on multiple counts of home invasion and murder in the death of railroad retiree Robert Tufts, when Johnson reluctantly pleaded guilty to one of the murder charges.
Tufts’ body was discovered by a mail carrier who noticed papers and mail piling up at Tufts’ home.
Tufts was robbed and beaten to death for $265 worth of change at his house in Rock Island in 2013.
Police later said they were contacted by a woman, to whom Johnson had reportedly confessed.
The trial was three hours into testimony Thursday, September 10, 2015, when Johnson entered an Alford plea after speaking with his girlfriend and his attorney.
Johnson was facing 30 to 100 years if convicted on all counts.
