Roy man sent to prison for killing friend over money dispute

OGDEN — A Roy man was sent to prison Monday for killing his friend over a money dispute and abandoning the body in a parking lot, where it went unnoticed for days.

In July, a jury found Daniel Lee Johnson, 49, guilty of murder, a first-degree felony; obstructing justice, a second-degree felony; abuse of a dead body and use of a firearm by a restricted person, third-degree felonies.

He was sentenced Monday to a term of 16 years to life in the Utah State Prison on the first count, one to 15 years on the second count, and zero to five years on the two final counts, 2nd District Court records show. Counts two and three were ordered to run consecutive to the first count, while the fourth count will run concurrently with the first.

Johnson shot Steve Bailey, 38, on April 10, 2021, while both men were at Johnson's house and had an argument regarding a "financial disagreement." An investigation began after a passerby found Bailey in a parking lot in the 3200 block of Orchard Avenue, in Ogden, according to Roy police.

Bailey suffered a single gunshot wound to the head.

During the trial, jurors heard testimony from investigators and family members of Bailey, including the victim's mother who recalled how Bailey's daughter was "always in his arms."

Bailey loved the outdoors, Johanna Bailey-Graham said, and was happy, positive and excited during his last day alive.

The jury also heard recordings of interviews with several children who were in the home at the time of the murder. There were three children between the ages of 9 and 15 in the house when the shooting occurred, according to investigators.

Johnson was found guilty of shooting Bailey, putting the body in Bailey's car, and driving him to the parking lot in Ogden where he was later found.

"Johnson never contacted the police nor did he seek medical attention for the victim. Johnson is a drug user who was in possession of a firearm," a police affidavit states.

Not only did Johnson fail to report the death of his friend, but he also gave investigators false information, police noted.

Still, several of Johnson's friends and family members filed character letters with the court on his behalf. One, written by his child, states, "My dad is nice and he always helped me when I fell down. He was fun. We would go fishing all the time. And he's my hero. He was a kind and caring person. He made people laugh and smile. ... And he loved everybody."

Another, written by a friend of Johnson's, states that Johnson's twin brother died about three years ago, and this exacerbated a downward spiral he was already struggling with.

Johnson had always been against drugs, the letter continues, but after his brother's death, "he seemed lost, and couldn't cope with everyday life as well as he used to."

Johnson's children are now struggling without him, the letter states.

"Daniel is the last person you would think of being in the place he is now," it reads. "He was always so level-headed and responsible. ... Daniel made a terrible mistake, and some very bad choices, but he isn't a bad or dangerous person. His family needs him, and they miss him so much!"

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