The wrong man was accused in a 2019 California murder. Now a victim is the suspect

A new suspect was arrested Tuesday in a 2019 murder case that shook an Amador County town and led to the wrong man sitting behind bars for nearly two years.

In May 2019, Vanessa Plew, 39, was killed in a Volcano home. Jared Wilkinson, now 44, who was in the home with Plew and the property landlord, Jeffrey Johnston, now 66, also suffered serious injuries.

Johnston was initially charged with murdering Plew and attempting to murder Wilkinson, who contacted authorities and claimed he and Plew had been shot. Johnston spent two years in jail awaiting trial, first with a bail of $1 million and then with no bail.

But in May 2021, the Amador County District Attorney’s office announced that it was dropping all charges against Johnston due to insufficient evidence. The office cited the California Department of Justice’s “examination of physical evidence” from the scene as their cause to believe that Johnston was innocent.

“We want to assure Vanessa’s family and friends that the investigation into her murder will continue,” said District Attorney Todd Reibe after dropping all charges against Johnston. “We will find justice for Vanessa and hold whomever is responsible for her death accountable.”

Now, officers believe Wilkinson is the one who murdered Plew. The United States Marshal’s Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Wilkinson in Indiana on Tuesday. The Amador County District Attorney charged him with murdering Plew, and attempting to murder Johnston and assaulting him with a deadly weapon.

Wilkinson is being held in jail with a $2 million bail. He will return to Amador County to face trial following an extradition hearing in Indiana, according to a news release circulated on Amador County DA’s office social media accounts.

Wilkinson may face life in state prison, the news release added.

This story was originally published July 14, 2022 at 1:51 PM.