Rance Freeman

A Mayville man will spend more than a decade in prison for the November 2008 killing of his acquaintance — a case boosted by advances in DNA testing technology and putting to rest a years-long investigation.

Rance “Randy” Freeman Jr. was sentenced Wednesday before Judge Susan M. Eagan to 14 years in state prison and five years post-release supervision for the killing of 55-year-old Jeffrey Johnson. The village man was indicted on murder charges in November 2018 before pleading guilty to a count of first-degree manslaughter in February of this year.

The COVID-19 pandemic pushed sentencing back by about seven months.

According to Chautauqua County District Attorney Patrick Swanson, the case was aided significantly by DNA forensic analysis that was not as advanced at the time of the Nov. 8, 2008, homicide. Specifically, Swanson said use of a DNA testing system known as STRmix helped investigators connect the murder weapon — a fire place tool — to Freeman.

The district attorney praised efforts of the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, notably investigators Randy Boland and David Morton, for ultimately helping to bring closure for Johnson’s family.

“The guys involved, they did a phenomenal job. They put a large amount of work into this,” Swanson said “This case had several pieces of evidence that were collected in 2008. Working on DNA evidence has evolved since then, and in the summer of 2017, or late 2017, we got the new information.”

Former Sheriff Joe Gerace also expressed satisfaction in 2018 when the indictment was returned by a grand jury.

“I’m very proud of the investigators of this case who continue to pour through leads in any open case,” Gerace said at the time. “It would be very satisfying if we could conclude other cold cases. Many of them haunt me.”

Swanson said DNA was identified on the weapon — both from the victim and from another person on the weapon’s handle — but at the time it was decided there wasn’t enough to bring charges against a suspect. That changed a decade later, when Swanson decided there was enough evidence linking Freeman to Johnson leading up to the homicide.

The DA believes the killing was over Hydrocodone pills. He said Freeman, now 33 years old, was with Johnson when Johnson filled a prescription at CVS Pharmacy for a three-month supply of the powerful opioid used to treat severe pain.

Johnson was struck in the back of the head with a heavy object as he sat playing a video game on his computer. His body was found by a friend the following morning.

During a search of Johnson’s home, investigators found a variety of prescription medication but no Hydrocodone that had just been filled. Further, witnesses reported seeing Freeman at a party with a sandwich bag full of pills that he then shared.

“We believe this was a robbery and homicide,” Swanson said. “They were somewhat familiar with each other. … We believe Mr. Johnson was at his computer and he knew that the defendant was there.”

Freeman was interviewed in the days following the homicide, telling police he was with Johnson at the pharmacy. However, police also looked at another person who was with Johnson that night and happened to be the one to find the body.

Swanson said investigators later determined that friend had no connection to the murder.

Wednesday’s sentencing comes one day before Swanson is set to leave office as district attorney following the November general election. “It’s nice to finish with wrapping this up,” he said of the case. “We worked hard to have one finish this way.”

Freeman was represented by attorney Lyle Hajdu.