UPDATE: Court Documents Reveal BCI Inquiry Into Stanley Girl's Death

STANLEY, N.D. (KMOT) – UPDATE (6/9/2025 at 5:25 p.m.): Two foster parents charged in the death of a young girl in Stanley appeared before a judge for the first time.

Court records made public Monday are revealing more in the probe by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation into the March death of a three-year-old girl in Stanley and what led to the criminal charges filed against her foster parents.

According to the criminal affidavit, the girl’s preliminary cause of death was ruled “inflicted blunt force trauma of head” and the preliminary manner of death was ruled “homicide.”

In the affidavit, Jamie Johnson told investigators the girl hurt herself by falling down some stairs and landing on her arm and face. Jamie also told investigators the girl had Autism and would scratch herself and hit her head on walls.

A BCI special agent said they obtained a warrant for footage from Ring cameras inside the residence on March 19, 2025. The agent said they observed in the footage Jamie “striking and punching Jane Doe in the face multiple times with an open and closed hand.”

The affidavit also states that the agent observed Jamie striking the girl with a cell phone and pulling her up by her hair, causing her to hit her head on the floor.

In the affidavit, the special agent said they saw Raymond Johnson intervene when the girl bit one of Jamie’s fingers. The agent said they saw Raymond kick the girl in the lower back with his right foot.

In court Monday, the judge went with State Prosecutor Wade Enget’s request for a $1 million cash or corporate surety bond in both cases.

“Based upon their facts and circumstances that are alleged in the affidavit for probable cause in this matter. Also, in regard to the specific evidence that is there, the AA felony, the A felony and the B felony,” said Enget.

Raymond and Jamie Johnson will both appear for their preliminary hearings and arraignments on the afternoon of July 24.

They both face the chance of life in prison without parole if they’re convicted on the AA felony murder charge.

UPDATE (6/9/2025 at 2:40 p.m.): The judge set bond at $1 million cash or corporate surety each for two people charged in the March death of a three-year-old girl in Stanley.

Raymond Johnson and Jamie Johnson appeared by video for their initial court appearances Monday afternoon on charges of murder, child abuse and domestic violence.

They will appear for a preliminary hearing and arraignment on July 24 at 1:45 p.m.

UPDATE (6/9/2025 at 11 a.m.): We’re learning more about the charges filed against a pair of foster parents in the death of a three-year-old girl who was found unresponsive back in March.

Prosecutors charged 62-year-old Raymond F. Johnson and 44-year-old Jamie L. Johnson.

According to court records, both are identified as the victim’s foster parents, and prosecutors say both “willfully caused the death of Jane Doe.”

Stanley Police said they responded to a report of a three-year-old girl who was not breathing on the afternoon of March 19.

Despite life-saving measures, the girl was pronounced dead at an area hospital.

Stanley Police said the child showed clear signs of physical trauma, and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation took the lead on the investigation into the case.

Prosecutors are charging them with AA-felony murder, child victim; A-felony child abuse of a victim under the age of six; and B-felony domestic violence, victim under 12.

The Johnsons will make their initial court appearance by Monday afternoon.

They’ll be presented with the charges, and the judge will set a bond.

We’re also reaching out to county social services as well as the North Dakota Auditor’s Office to learn more about the process and how something like this could have happened.

ORIGINAL STORY (6/7/2025): Stanley Police arrested two people Friday for murder in the death of a young child in March.

According to a police report, police and sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a three-year-old girl who was not breathing on March 19 in the 300 block of Adeline Drive.

Responders found the girl unresponsive and not breathing, and despite life-saving measures, she was pronounced dead at the medical center in Stanley.

The report states the child showed clear signs of physical trauma, and police asked the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation for help in investigating the circumstances of her death.

The investigation led them to place two people who knew the child under arrest on Friday.

Each faces the following charges:

• Murder (AA Felony)
• Child Abuse, victim under six years old (A Felony)
• Domestic Violence, serious bodily injury, victim under 12 years old (B Felony)