Panama City Beach police charge 2 suspects in death of Navajo Nation man from Arizona

The News Herald/USA TODAY NETWORK
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One tourist was rescued from the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday off Public Beach Access 21 in unincorporated Bay County.

PANAMA CITY BEACH — Panama City Beach police have charged two suspects in the murder of a Navajo Nation man originally thought to have died of natural causes while vacationing in the area.

According to a PCB Police Department press release, Scottie Black, 40, who turned himself in over the weekend, is being held in the Bay County Jail on charges of murder and fraudulent use of a credit card. Did Johnson, 34, has a warrant out for her arrest on charges of accessory after-the-fact to murder, fraudulent use of a credit card and providing false information to law enforcement.

The victim, Tyrell Sagg, 41, was Johnson’s boyfriend, the press release states. Sagg and the suspects are all members of the Navajo Nation in Arizona.

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The press release states police first received a call Oct. 3 about an unresponsive man at a local hotel. An initial investigation revealed Sagg, Johnson and Black were all staying in the room together and had checked in the day before. Johnson and Black told police Sagg had an underlying heart condition and must have died during the night.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

However, an autopsy Oct. 5 revealed evidence that the cause of death was not natural, but most likely the result of strangulation. By that time, the suspects had left Florida.

Two PCB Police Department detectives flew to Arizona on Jan. 10 to question the two suspects. During the interview, Johnson provided incriminating statements that indicated Black had something to do with Sagg’s death, the press release states. She also admitted to using Sagg's debit card after his death and to giving false information to detectives.

The press release added that when detectives questioned Black, he confessed to killing Sagg during an altercation at the hotel. He also admitted to using Sagg's debit card following his death to obtain funds for he and Johnson's trip home.

At this point, Johnson has not been arrested and is believed to be in Arizona. If anyone has information regarding Johnson's whereabouts, they are urged to contact the Panama City Beach Police Department at 850-233-5000.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City Beach police charge 2 suspects in death of Arizona man