BEAUMONT, Texas — A man has been sentenced for murder in connection to the strangulation death of a man found hidden under tires in a wooded area in October 2023.
Isaac Platt, 34, of Beaumont, got 40 years in prison for the murder of Johnny Tomlinson, 65. Beaumont Police described Tomlinson as transient.
On Sunday, October 29, 2023, Beaumont Police were sent to the area of Crockett Street and Avenue C in reference to a body being found. This area is a known camp site for transients to live, according to a probable cause affidavit.
A witness told police that he noticed a bad smell of what he believed was something dead.
The witness told police he made a comment about the smell to Platt, to which he acknowledged, there was something dead there, according to the affidavit.
Police later learned that Tomlinson had been living with Platt, in the same area where his body was found.
Another witness told police that he witnessed an argument between Tomlinson and Platt, where Platt accused Tomlinson of stealing his drugs.
The witness said he left while they were arguing and came back later that night and went to sleep, according to the affidavit.
The next morning, the witness said when he woke up, he realized Tomlinson was no longer there, but his bike was. Investigators found out that Tomlinson never went without his bike because he had difficulty walking due to a medical issue, according to the affidavit.
The witness told police he and Platt got into an argument about his dog allegedly eating Platt's food. The argument later became physical and Platt said, "do you want to end up like Johnny?" and pointed to the area where Tomlinson's body would later be found, according to the affidavit.
Platt was re-interviewed by detectives and confessed to killing Tomlinson.
Platt also brought detectives back to the scene of the crime, where the murder weapon was found, along with more evidence.
Tomlinson's death was later ruled as a homicide after it was determined that he was strangled.