'Friend' of Paige Johnson Assaulted with Tire Iron

The man to last see Paige Johnson before she vanished in September of 2010 was recently attacked by a man wielding a tire iron. Jacob Bumpass thinks it might have something to do with the disappearance of the Covington teenager, but from the looks of the man who attacked him, there's just no telling. The guy looks crazed in his mugshot so who knows what was on his mind?

Jacob Bumpass had just been released from prison, where he's been since October of 2010, and was waiting for his brother to pick him up from his new job. That's when 49-year-old Thomas J. Snider come running at him with a tire iron, striking him in the back. He also hit Jacob's brother Caleb Bumpass in this attack. Jacob says that a profanity was yelled at him, but that's essentially all that was said regarding this strange case of assault. When police asked Jacob if there was any possible reason for this attack, he responded that it was "maybe because of the Paige Johnson thing."

While Jacob Bumpass doesn't deserve to be physically attacked for any reason, it's understandable as to why many people think he's responsible for Paige's disappearance. There are inconsistencies in the stories told by Bumpass regarding the last time he saw the missing 17-year-old girl. But cellphone pinging never seems to fail, and he is certainly suspicious.

At any rate, he's not in prison for her disappearance and his prison stay wasn't at all connected to her case. So to attack him based on this disappearance is kind of like forming a mob mentality against someone you think is guilty. Hopefully the man who did this feels some shred of guilt for behaving so poorly. For all that is known, Jacob Bumpass could be telling the truth, as unlikely as it seems.

Comments: 4

rich ballard Sep 9, 2012, 7:05pm UTC

He was hit because he was making rude comments about the guy who attacked him's girlfriend.

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Linda Bumpass Sep 10, 2012, 8:48am UTC

Hogwash, rich. He was attacked according to the other employees because the attacker is from Covington, has known the Johnson family for years, and because he wasn't in his right mind because... well we won't mention the m word.

The guy came from behind while Jacob Bumpass was talking on the cell phone having exited the building with about 20-30 witnesses around him and clubbed him in the back with a tire iron. One hit was all the guy managed to get in. His frame of mind was dangerous, and he is a big guy at 203 lbs 6'1", but hardly a match for 6'5" 6'6" of those he assaulted. He was put into a headlock by the brother until he dropped the weapon and I'm told the man's girlfriend was pulling on him trying to get him to stop. When he dropped the weapon, he was released from the headlock and he and his girlfriend fled the scene grabbing the tire iron.

Now he faces 2 class C Felony assault charges of 5-10 yrs each if convicted and has lost a good job as a fork truck driver. Heard he did jail time before and should have had better sense.

The latest information is that Jacob Bumpass dropped Paige off in Covington as he said, and the cops know that but just aren't saying because the investigation of the latest leads is still in progress. Means he assaulted innocent people though. Not exactly a hero and is in a heck of a mess now facing more jail time.

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Linda Bumpass Sep 10, 2012, 9:16am UTC

Talk talk talk talk talk they say. Already did. Family was questioned by county prosecutor in front of grand jury in Nov 2010 and answered all questions. We don't know anything and frankly didn't know her or her family. His brother and wife hang out on the library scene and don't exactly run in the same circles. Jacob Bumpass cooperated with police voluntarily telling them of his interactions with Paige Johnson that night and where he dropped her off. She called him for a ride repeatedly, and he gave her one. Mistake in hindsight. He stopped cooperating upon his arrest for technical violations asserting that the police needed to contact his attorney. Information on the other threats has now been provided to the FBI and they are reviewing as it has escalated to threats of kidnapping him and anyone with him. The demands to "talk" are federal violations of Title 18 Section 241 Conspiracy against rights which speaks specifically to what is going on here. The punishment of Jacob Bumpass and his immediate family for using the privileges guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution are federal crimes. Directly from the mouth of the Cincinnati Police Department who direct transfers to the FBI office. It is not free speech where violence and violations of federal law are concerned.

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Linda Bumpass Sep 10, 2012, 9:37am UTC

A reminder to the locals, Kentucky is a right to carry state. Even without CCW, a weapon shall not be considered to be concealed if it is in the glovebox of the car whether locked or unlocked. Those around Jacob Bumpass are not convicted felons and have no restrictions as to carrying guns for protection and availing themselves of rights under law. There has been a massive bullying campaign online of any who attempt to say they know Jacob Bumpass and that he would not have been involved in her disappearance down to tracking physical addresses, work location, etc of innocent bystanders. Intimidation at its finest. The response is that all around him are getting CCW. Not only is Jacob Bumpass 6'5" 320 lbs, and his brother 6'6" 270 lbs with a long reach and able to defend themselves without weapons, but none around Jacob Bumpass are taking these threats lightly. All are arming themselves for self defense. Shouldn't have to come to this for innocent people and those who asserted rights under the constitution, but it has.

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'Friend' of Paige Johnson Assaulted with Tire Iron

Comments: 4

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