Pineville Ky. Police Department Charges Tennessee Man in the Death of a Pineville Woman

From The Pineville, Ky. Police Department -

On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, the Pineville Police Department (PPD) responded to a call for service regarding a deceased person in the 300 Block of George Martin Drive, Pineville, KY 40977.

Upon arrival, PPD Officers, and the Bell County Coroner’s Office determined that the deceased person, identified as 41-year-old April (Barlow) Celio, was a victim of a homicide.

On Thursday, September 24, 2026, information was developed that Barlow was also pregnant at the time of death, and, according to the State Medical Examiner’s Office, there was no fetus in the victim’s womb. While processing the scene, PPD, Bell County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), and Kentucky State Police (KSP) were able to recover what investigators and medical examiners believed to be fetal remains.

The investigation continued, and investigators were able to identify a suspect, DeMarcus Kenneth Johnson-Wright, who had an extensive violent criminal history and several outstanding violent felony warrants out of Tennessee.

On Friday, September 25, 2026, the Bell County District Court issued warrants for Johnson-Wright for Robbery - 1st Degree and Kidnapping – Adult. On Wednesday, September 30, 2026, Bell County District Court then issued more warrants for Murder – Domestic Violence and Tampering With Physical Evidence. At that time, PPD and BCSO requested the assistance of the United States Marshals Service (USMS) Central Kentucky Fugitive Task Force (CKFTF) - London Office.

On that same day, information was developed that Johnson-Wright was residing on the 200 Block of Timber Court Drive, Clarksville, Tennessee. USMS CKFTF requested assistance from USMS Middle Tennessee Fugitive Task Force (MTFTF) – Nashville Office, the Clarksville Police Department (CPD) Special Operations Unit (SOU), and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) K-9 Unit. At or around 11:00 PM CST, USMS MTFTF, CKFTF, CPD SOU, and MCSO arrested Johnson-Wright at that location and transported him to the CPD SOU Office for an interview with BCSO and USMS investigators.

A subsequent search warrant was applied for and granted for that residence, and materials relating to the case were recovered. DeMarcus Kenneth Johnson-Wright was booked into the Montgomery County Detention Center in Tennessee, where he will await extradition back to Kentucky.

Also assisting during the initial incident were Bell County EMS and the Pineville Fire Department.

Officer Patrick Brooks is in charge of this ongoing investigation.