[12/10/01] The former court reporter to Warren County Judge Gerald Hosemann found injured on his property in Hinds County four days ago remained in the critical care unit at ParkView Regional Medical Center this morning.

Juanita “Nita” Johnston, 47, who lives in Vicksburg, was taken to the hospital around 5 a.m. Thursday suffering from a concussion, hypothermia and multiple bruises, according to family members who said she had been beaten. The only information a hospital spokesman would give this morning was that Johnson was stable.

A Hinds County investigator urged patience.

“Investigators will be talking with her when she gets out of intensive care,” Sgt. Steve Pickett said this morning. “Until she can talk and tell us more about what happened, there isn’t much that can be done.”

Pickett said the Hinds County Sheriff’s Department does not expect a breakthrough until her condition improves. No arrests had been made.

Johnston was found after about a four-hour search involving friends and family members behind a mobile home on Hosemann’s property near Utica.

Johnston was last reported seen around 9 p.m. Tuesday arguing with Hosemann near his property in Hinds County. Family members, who said they had not spoken with Johnston since Tuesday, began looking for her around 1:30 a.m. two days later.

Hosemann joined the search Thursday morning and Johnston was reportedly found by Hosemann and Billy Leist about 10 feet behind the mobile home. She was taken to the hospital in a private vehicle.

The property at 1190 Puckett Drive where Johnston was found is used by Hosemann for hunting and keeping horses. Hosemann, who held court Thursday, said Friday that he does not know how Johnston was injured and left on his property.

Hosemann, 49, was expected to hold court this morning. He has been Warren County Court judge and Warren County Youth Court judge for 15 years. Before seeking the office in 1986, he had been in private practice in Vicksburg for 10 years. He ran unsuccessfully for a state Supreme Court seat in 1996 and was re-elected to his county post without opposition in 1999.