The Murder Of Christina Bishop and Louise Bishop

Located at St Vincents Cemetery in Avoca, AR.

Christina Bochenek

Bishop

Nov 20, 1968

Feb 17, 2010

(Note: Feb 17, 2010 was the day they located her body.)

Benton County Daily Record Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Christina Louise (Bochenek) Bishop, 40, of Bentonville, Ark. Born in Poland Nov. 20, 1968, adopted at age 3 by Chester and Louise Bochenek. Christina was raised in Cicero, Ill., a suburb of Chicago and later in Rogers, Ark. Christina Bishop was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Rogers, as well as St. Stephens Catholic Church in Bentonville. Survivors include two sons, Nicholas and John Johansen of Garfield; and daughter, Leslie Conner, who was given up for adoption; two stepbrothers, Scott Bishop of Boise, Idaho, and Christopher Bishop of Bentonville; and many cousins and nieces. Christina's cousin George Joseph Skupien and his wife had recently relocated to the area to care for Christina and her mother, Louise Bishop, who both died suddenly together. Visitation will be at the Benton County Funeral Home, 306 N. Fourth St., Rogers, on Friday, March 5, 2010, from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral Mass will be at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 1416 Poplar St., Rogers, on Saturday, March 6, 2010, at 10:30 a.m., with Monsignor David LeSieur officiating; burial in St. Vincent Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Rogers, Ark.

 Chester S Bochenek

Nov 5, 1924

Oct 15, 1987

Louise Bochenek

Jan 29, 1927

Feb 17, 2010

(Note: Feb 17, 2010 was the day they located her body. Chester was her second husband who she requested to be buried next to because she had spent most of her time in Arkansas with him.)

Benton County Daily Record March 3, 2010

Louise (Szoctacka) Bishop, 81, of Bentonville, Ark. Louise was born in Poland on Dec. 29, 1927, and became a "very proud" U.S. citizen in 1957. Louise lived through the war and told stories of running from planes dropping bombs near her home in Poland. She relived the horror throughout her entire life. Close friends said that Louise had shrapnel from bombs removed from her shoulder and leg. While Louise was a proud American citizen, she never forgot her Polish heritage. Accordion music of polkas, waltzes and classical music once played throughout her home. Louise retired from Zenith Television Corp., in Cicero, Ill., a suburb of Chicago, and later owned several businesses to include "The Sandman Motel" in Rogers, Ark., which was once located on Walnut Street across from the now Frisco Mall. Louise was a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Rogers, as well as St. Stephens Catholic Church in Bentonville. Preceded in death by her daughter, Christina (Bochenek) Bishop; two brothers in Ukraine; and husbands, Edward Skupien, Chester Bochenek and Lacy Bishop. Louise had requested to be buried next to Chester to whom she spent most of her life with here in Northwest Arkansas. Survivors include two grandsons, Nicholas and John Johansen; as well as a granddaughter, Leslie Conner; and two stepsons Scott Bishop of Boise, Idaho, and Christopher Bishop of Bentonville; as well as two sisters living overseas in Ukraine ;and many nieces and nephews, to include George Joseph Skupien of Chicago, her godson and nephew who had recently relocated to Arkansas upon her request. Visitation will be at the Benton County Funeral Home, 306 N. Fourth St., Rogers, on Friday, March 5, 2010, from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral Mass will be at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 1416 Poplar St., Rogers, on Saturday, March 6, 2010, at 10:30 a.m. with Monsignor David LeSieur officiating; burial in St. Vincent Cemetery.

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No bail for men held in deaths of 2 women

By Adam Wallworth

Northwest Arkansas, Pages 9

Friday, February 19, 2010

BENTONVILLE — Two Benton County men will remain in jail while attorneys are sought to defend them against capital murder charges stemming from the recovery of remains believed to be a mother and daughter missing since June.

The missing women are the mother and grandmother of one of the accused men, Nicholas James Johansen, who turns 19 today.

Benton County Circuit Judge David Clinger ordered Johansen and Michael Shane Winters, 29, held without bond Thursday. The two were transferred to Circuit Judge Robin Green's court because they have other charges in her district.

Clinger said evidence presented by police indicates it's possible that one or more aggravating factors exist, which allows the men to be held without bond. While both defense attorneys had to step aside because of conflicts, he did allow the attorneys a chance to seek bond.

"It's my intent to hold without bail, but if you want to argue, you can," Clinger said.

The men were arrested Wednesday while investigators continued to exhume human remains they believe to be those of Louise Bishop, 81, and her daughter, Christina Bishop, 40. The pair was reported missing June21, having been unreachable since June 18. An unidentified prisoner led authorities to a shallow grave at 15226 Sugar Creek Road in Benton County, a residence that both defendants list as their home.

Five deputies stood guard as Johansen and Winters - each wearing the black prison stripes - had his turn before Clinger.

Clinger's order denying bond included a request for the Arkansas Public Defenders Commission to immediately appoint death-penalty qualified counsel to represent the defendants.

Benton County Public Defender Jay Saxton, initially tapped to be Johansen's attorney, said he couldn't serve because his office already represents someone who will be called as a witness in the case.

Saxton said usually when his office has a conflict, it relies on Marianne Hudson at the conflicts office. Hudson was in court with Winters but couldn't take the case because one of her attorneys represents Johansen's father, John Johansen.

John Johansen, 45, was arrested May 20 on a charge of second-degree domestic battery.

Johansen's daughter Susan Martin also was arrested on the same charge. Both are accused of abusing Martin's sons and forcing them to wear dresses as punishment.

John Johansen and his mother, Lois Johansen, were among those gathered in the court room Thursday. The two sat with a small group opposite Louise Bishop's nephew George Skupien and his wife. Skupien had offered rewards for information and has spoken publicly numerous times about the missing pair.

Police and deputies began their search for the Bishops' remains by searching a house belonging to Lois Johansen at 15226 Sugar Creek Road.

Nicholas Johansen and Winters both listed that address as their home. Winters is mentioned in an affidavit regarding a battery charge, which he also faces.

Winters lists Martin as his emergency contact in a booking report from his arrest on charges stemming from accusations he stole and pawned property belonging to John Johansen.

Johansen offered as evidence pawn receipts he was given by Martin, who gotthem from Winters' wallet, documents show.

Skupien, after the hearing, said that while he could share many fond stories of his aunt Louise Bishop and knew many details about his cousin Christina Bishop, he knew little about Nicholas Johansen. Skupien said he didn't know Martin, but said she isn't Christina Bishop's daughter.

Judge Clinger said he wouldn't allow the release of affidavits related to the case until attorneys for the men can review them. However, neither man has an attorney yet because of conflicts of interest declared by the Benton County public defender's office and the Northwest Arkansas public defender conflicts office.

Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Van Stone said it is common to allow defense attorneys a chance to review court documents.

Stone said defense attorneys may find statements or other portions of an affidavit damaging and ask a judge to redact them. Because attorneys have yet to be named, upon their appointments they will likely need time to review the case, he said.

Stone wouldn't discuss other details of the case, such as Martin's relationship to Nicholas Johansen, where the killings occurred and whether Winters was the prisoner that led them to the grave site.

"When dealing with a highly publicized case, I'd rather err on the side of a fair trial," Stone said. "I'll let the affidavit speak for itself." To contact this reporter: awallworth@arkansasonline.com

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Mother and Daughter Missing in Bentonville (June 25, 2009)
Family Offers Reward for Missing Mother and Daughter (July 10, 2009)
Truck of Missing Women Found (August 24, 2009)
State Crime Lab Searching Truck Found in Front of Strip Club (August 25, 2009)
Arrest Made in Bentonville Missing Women Case (November 17, 2009)
Son of Missing Bentonville Woman Released from Jail (November 20, 2009)
Reward Increased in Missing Mother and Daughter Case (November 29, 2009)
Human Remains Could Solve Missing Women Case (February 16, 2010)
Two Men Behind Bars in Missing Bentonville Women Case Son and Second Suspect Arrested (February 17, 2010)
Bond Denied for BentonCounty Men Charged With Capital Murder  (February 18, 2010)
Family: Remains of Missing Bentonville Women Identified (March 2, 2010)
Bishop Women Laid to Rest in Rogers (March 6, 2010)

As of today's date the two men are still awaiting trials.