Rodney Carter Clark was arrested Wednesday in the murder of Mario Demonte Johnson.

Johnson, a 29-year-old Newton County resident, was found dead by a relative in the front yard of a home on Heritage Way Sunday, Nov. 15.

According to Investigator Jeff Alexander, the relative told the Newton County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) that he had not heard from the victim and decided to go look for him at the address where Johnson was found.

“This is when he located Mr. Johnson in the front yard of the residence, a victim of apparent gunshot wounds,” Alexander said.

The investigation in Johnson's murder led to a search warrant at the residence of Clark, 6189 Geiger Street, Covington, where enough evidence and information was found to get a warrant for his arrest.

The 58-year-old Clark was taken to the Newton County Detention Center on charges of murder, possession of cocaine, giving false statements, tampering with evidence, possession of drug related object, obstruction and counterfeited trademarks.