Family and friends say goodbye to Chelsea Johnson as police continue to search for her killer

FAIRFIELD, Ohio - Family and friends gathered Monday to say a final goodbye to Chelsea Marie Johnson.

The 15-year-old freshman high school student went missing a week ago. Her body was found in a creek near her Fairfield home on Monday April 16 behind the Heritage Glen Apartments on Brookfield Drive.

Police have yet to make an arrest in the murder. The Butler County Coroner's Office ruled her death a homicide by stabbing.

Johnson's mother Vicky Fible says she wants her daughter's killer to be brought to justice as soon as possible.

Fible was so overcome with emotion during one part of the service that she left for a few minutes wiping tears from her eyes.

Fible, who called her daughter "Sis", says she last spoke to her on Sunday, April 15 during a phone call while she was at work. She told her daughter to make sure she did the dishes.

Johnson told her mom she was going to walk to the store. She did make it to the Ameristop convenience store behind her Southgate apartment on Nilles Road. The store clerk says she came in with a friend around noon.

What happened after she left the store remains unclear at this time. Fairfield Police Chief Mike Dickey says investigators believe Johnson knew her killer. 9News observed two detectives at the funeral service.

Fible thanked the community for making donations to help pay for her daughter's funeral during a candle light vigil Friday night in Hamilton.

Monday's visitation was from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Fairfield West Baptist Church at 5345 Muskopf Road. The funeral immediately followed the visitation.

Family members wore purple, Johnson's favorite color. Her casket is also purple.

Robert Poulson, Principal of Fairfield Options Academy where Johnson attended spoke at a celebration of life ceremony during the funeral.

"She was always smiling. She was determined to succeed academically. (She was)  asking questions and wanting her grades to be printed out to show her mom how well she was doing in school," Polson said.

Funeral arrangements were handled by Avance Funeral Home and Crematory. The service was officiated by Pastor Rob Rosenbalm.

Johnson was laid to rest at Arlington Memorial Gardens in Springfield Township.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (513)352-3040. You do not have to give your name and may be receive cash if your clues lead to an arrest.