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NASCAR Legend Jimmie Johnson's In-Laws and Nephew Found Dead in Apparent Murder-Suicide
Police believe Johnson's mother-in-law, Terry Janway, killed her husband and her grandson.
Police are investigating the shooting deaths of NASCAR star Jimmie Johnson’s in-laws and their grandson as an apparent murder-suicide.
The bodies of Jack Janway, 69; his wife, Terry Janway, 68; and their grandson, Dalton Janway, 11, were found Monday in their Muskogee, Oklahoma home, police said in a statement to NBC News.
Authorities believe Johnson’s mother-in-law, Terry Janway, shot and killed her husband and grandson before shooting herself.
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Officers responded to a 911 call around 9 p.m. from a woman reporting a disturbance, claiming someone had a gun before she hung up, NBC affiliate KJRH reported. When Muskogee police arrived at the scene, they found an individual lying near the front door, then heard a gunshot that came from further inside the house.
The three deceased were the parents and nephew of Johnson’s wife, Chandra, per KJRH.
Muskogee Mayor Marlon Coleman told Fox 23 News that he knew the Janway family, and that Jack Janway was a prominent chiropractor in their community.
“It was traumatizing to find out that a long-standing family who had made so many contributions to our community were involved in this type of incident,” Coleman said. “It was even more bone-chilling to find out there was a child involved.”
Coleman said he knew Jack Janway and that he'd been a patient of the chiropractor.
“Just knowing that it was him and his family took a different toll on me,” he said.
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Muskogee Public Schools released a statement on Facebook saying, “Muskogee Public Schools mourns the loss of Dalton Janway who died Monday night. Dalton was a fifth grade student at Sadler Arts Academy who was cherished by his teachers and fellow classmates. Our heart goes out to the entire Rougher community who knew him as a friend and classmate.”
Counseling services will be available for students, families and employees, the district said.
Johnson’s race team, Legacy Motor Club, said on Twitter that it was withdrawing the No. 84 Carvana Chevrolet from the NASCAR Cup Series race in Chicago scheduled for this weekend. “The Johnson family has asked for privacy at this time and no further statements will be made,” the team added.
Chicago was going to be Johnson’s fourth Cup race this season after racing in the Daytona 500, Circuit of the Americas and the Coca-Cola 600, according to NBC Sports. He compiled 83 victories and seven Cup Series championships driving for Hendricks Motorsports between 2002 and 2020. He returned to part-time action this season as driver-owner for Legacy Motor Club.
“We are saddened by the tragic deaths of members of Chandra Johnson’s family,” NASCAR said in a statement, per NBC News. “The entire NASCAR family extends its deepest support and condolences during this difficult time to Chandra, Jimmie and the entire Johnson & Janway families."
