Dad indicted for putting kids in trash

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - Nearly four months after investigators say he left two children in a trash can overnight, Tommie Lee Johnson Jr. was indicted by a grand jury.

On July 27, 2009, employees at a company in an industrial section off East Second Street in Dayton heard what sounded like crying coming from a trash bin.

He opened the lid, and described what he saw inside.

Baron Bates said, "The little girl was standing up crying, just looking me in desperate need. She was sweating like crazy."

His coworker, Dale Felty said, [Baron] "pointed in, I looked down--I couldn't believe it. Two little kids down there, two babies."

Then on Wednesday afternoon, nearly four months after he was arrested, Tommie Lee Johnson Jr. was indicted by the Montgomery County Grand Jury.

They approved charges for two counts of attempted murder, four counts of kidnapping, three counts of domestic violence, and one count of tampering with evidence.

Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck said, "These children could easily have died, having been inside this hot container, not to mention a dump truck coming the next day and removing the contents, and taking it to the landfill."

Johnson Jr. was in police custody for nearly 8 hours before the children were rescued. He admitted his role to 2 News later that day.

As detectives walked Johnson Jr. to jail hours after the children were discovered, reporter Libby Kirsch asked him, "You thought they might die in there?" Johnson answered, "No, I was going back for them." Kirsch clarified, "But then you got arrested. Why didn't you tell police then?" Johnson Jr. answered, "Poor Judgement."

Johnson Jr. remains in jail on a one million dollar bond. He's set to go to court on the new charges November 28th. He could face up to 80 years in prison if found guilty of all charges.