Johnson confession tapes released

MARINETTE - Just hours after three teens were shot and killed while swimming in the Menominee River, a calm Scott Johnson sat down and talked with investigators. During an hour and a half videotaped interrogation (08/01/2008) he revealed precise details about how and why he carried out the deadly assault.

The tape was released on Tuesday.

"I was looking at them. All the sudden, they come up to my right and, I just jumped up and I just leaned into it, and just started spraying prey, whatever you call it, just let go," Johnson said.

The 38-year-old Upper Peninsula man said he had been planning an attack for years but that the river shootings were set in motion after he sexually assaulted a girl in the same woods just the day before.

Knowing police were looking for him, Johnson said he wanted to shoot the young people so he could eventually die in a shoot out with law enforcement.

"My initial plan was to use those people as bait so anyone start pourin' in," Johnson said at the time.

Three teens died in the attack: 17-year-old Tiffany Pohlson, 18-year-old Anthony Spigarelli, and 19-year-old Bryan Mort.

Three independent psychological evaluations of Johnson were also released on Tuesday. All indicate that he knew what he was doing at the time.

"People want answers, people want to hear this and that. I don't know what to tell them," Johnson added.

In fact, investigators asked Johnson: "What is it you felt you accomplished with this?"

Johnson replied, "Absolutely nothing, not even personal gratification. I feel nothing, I am empty."

On Monday, about 50 family and friends of the victims gathered in Iron Mountain, Michigan to hear Johnson's confessions for the first time. While they've learned more about the man convicted of killing their loved ones; some say they still don't understand why he did it.

"I can't tell whether there was any true remorse or not. I walk away from there thinking he had none. He was free to blame all of his problems lead up to this event on everyone else: an unhappy life, a difficult unhappy divorce, separation from his children, job stresses," Rev. David Snyder, the Mort Family Pastor, said.

In a recent interview with a reporter from The Associated Press, Johnson said he won't apologize to the victims’ families. He said the killings were a very easy thing to do, even comparing it to spilling a glass of milk.

"Do you get all upset about it. No, you just clean it up and get another glass of milk," Johnson said.

Despite his indifference, Johnson said he still deserves to be punished. "I should be lined up and shot. I mean, that's how I should be punished," he said.

Wisconsin doesn't have the death penalty but Johnson is facing mandatory life behind bars. He's being held at the Marinette County Jail until his sentencing date in May.