Cary Park Deal: Wauconda Man Detained on Homicide Charge

Wauconda police officers arrested David W. Johnson on Friday after a McHenry County judge issued a warrant for his arrest on October 26. Prosecutors charged Johnson, 70, with one count of drug-induced homicide and one count of delivery of a controlled substance. The charges stem from the death of Scott Torpe, 68, who was found dead in McHenry County on December 19.

Detectives determined that Torpe died of cocaine toxicity after ingesting drugs obtained two days prior. A toxicology report confirmed the cause of death. Prosecutors stated that Torpe had arranged cocaine purchases with Johnson using code words such as "parts" and "tinkerbell." Messages recovered from Torpe's phone showed communication with a contact named "Dave," which detectives traced to Johnson. Torpe's wife used the same code words in texts with her husband. Just days before his death, Torpe asked his wife to withdraw cash from his bank account for "parts."

The McHenry County Sheriff's Office investigated after Torpe's body was discovered. Detectives obtained search warrants for the phones of Johnson, Torpe, and Torpe's wife. Cell site location data placed Johnson and Torpe's wife in the same location following one of the cash withdrawals. During an interview with detectives, the wife admitted to meeting Johnson at a park in Cary on December 17. She stated she paid him $100 for cocaine intended for her husband. Johnson had spoken with detectives in August before the formal charges were filed.

Upon his arrest on Friday, officers found Johnson in possession of approximately two grams of cocaine and two cell phones. He was transported to the McHenry County Jail and appeared in Initial Appearance Court on Saturday. Judge Mary Nader granted a petition to detain Johnson pending trial. Nader noted that Johnson had been convicted in 2006 of possessing over 900 grams of cocaine, meaning he understood the consequences of his actions. She rejected conditions such as home confinement or drug testing, arguing that Johnson's own drug use was not the central issue in the case.

Nader stated that Johnson showed no desire to stop selling harmful controlled substances. She observed that he lost a friend to cocaine but continued driving through McHenry and Lake counties with enough product to deliver. The judge explained that home confinement would allow Johnson to sell from his residence or on the two days he would be permitted to leave his home. She emphasized that requiring a substance abuse evaluation would not be warranted given the nature of the charges.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese commented on the case following the hearing. Freese said the county has become a statewide leader in prosecuting drug-induced homicides by ensuring those who sell drugs face responsibility for the lives affected. She stated that every prosecution serves as a warning that dealing deadly drugs carries consequences beyond standard drug charges. Johnson is scheduled to appear in court again on November 4.

The investigation began after Torpe was found dead on December 19. Prosecutors said the timeline linked the purchase of cocaine on December 17 directly to Torpe's death two days later. The code words used in digital communications provided a clear paper trail connecting the buyer, the seller, and the payment method. The arrest occurred just days after the warrant was issued, with Johnson holding enough cocaine for multiple transactions at the time of his detention.