PANAMA CITY — The man who confessed that a desire for drugs motivated three murders across the Panhandle has been denied bond and a public defender.
Derrick Ray Thompson, 41, will be held without bond after his arrest in connection to three slayings, and Judge Joe Grammer denied his request for a public defender Wednesday on the grounds Thompson made more than $60,000 last year. Grammer asked if figures for Thompson’s income were accurate.
“Not any more,” Thompson said.
“Definitely not after yesterday,” Grammer replied.
Former Bay County Sheriff’s Office investigator and local nightclub owner Allen Johnson, 67, became the most recent victim in a series of three shooting deaths authorities believe was fueled by a quest for prescription narcotics. Thompson allegedly came to Johnson’s Lynn Haven home to borrow money after the shooting of a Santa Rosa couple days earlier.
Investigators found Johnson’s body Monday afternoon with a single gunshot wound to the back of the head, according to arrest records. A spent .380 caliber casing lay on the ground beside Johnson’s body.
In a Ford F-150 truck left in Johnson’s driveway and believed to be connected to the Santa Rosa County slayings, investigators found an empty .380 caliber handgun case and a box of .380 caliber ammo in plain view.
Johnson’s Toyota Tundra was missing from the driveway. Investigators also found a large sum of money had been taken from Johnson’s home. Moments after the shooting, Thompson pulled up in the Tundra to a drug dealer on Cone Avenue and purchased numerous prescription narcotics, authorities said.
Thompson was on the road after the Milton shooting deaths of 60-year-old Steven Zackowski and 59-year-old Debra Zackowski.
Investigators wanted to question Thompson for stealing several items and a vehicle from the Zackowskis’ residence, but authorities in Santa Rosa County had not issued a warrant for his arrest tied to their murders. Deputies were called to the Zackowskis’ home Saturday, after Steven Zackowski accused Thompson of stealing items, which included house keys, authorities said.
They discovered the Zackowskis had been shot and killed about 10:30 a.m. before Thompson fled to Panama City Beach for the night. Thompson had previously been hired to do some electrical work at the Zackowskis’ home, investigators found.
Late Monday night, the Tundra driven by Thompson was spotted going into a private, gated hunting lodge in Troy, Ala., and notified law enforcement. Officers covertly locked the gate and waited for Thompson to show himself.
Officers spotted the vehicle driving up to the gate to leave just before daybreak. When Thompson got out to unlock the gate, they ambushed him with flash-bang grenades and took him into custody without incident.
During their interview, Thompson told investigators he killed the Zackowskis as well as Johnson, giving law enforcement details about the murders not yet made public.
Thompson was charged with an open count of murder in Bay County Tuesday. His next court date is scheduled for Aug. 19. Santa Rosa authorities have not yet charged Thompson in the Zackowskis’ deaths. Authorities expect to have an order for which trial will proceed first within 30 days.