HOUSTON – Hours after Houston police announced that a suspect had been arrested and charged in a murder earlier this week, KPRC 2 News confirmed that the suspect had actually been released on bond hours before the murder charge was filed.
A Houston Police Department spokesperson confirmed investigators are now working to apprehend 49-year-old Johna Robinson, who was released from the Harris County Jail after posting bond.
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HPD said the murder investigation was ongoing and the evidence did not lead to a murder charge being filed until around 9 p.m. Thursday night.
What happened next in terms of paperwork or approvals is unclear, but KPRC 2 News has reached out to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office for more information.
However, publicly available court records show the charge was formally filed at 4:15 a.m. Friday. A warrant has since been issued for Robinson’s arrest.
Robinson, identified in records as a part-time club promoter, is accused of killing 52-year-old Terribia “Ribi” Dembry, who was identified by family members at the scene Tuesday afternoon.
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Dembry was fatally shot in an apartment complex parking lot on Grant Road, near Cypress Creek High School. Police said the suspect fled in a black SUV.
Records indicate Robinson was arrested just hours after the shooting. According to court records, prosecutors knew he was involved in a homicide investigation.
He was arrested during a traffic stop, because records show he had a firearm.
He was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Despite being on federal supervised release until 2029, a judge set his bond at $75,000 on Thursday for the firearm charge.
Robinson posted bond and was released from jail at 1:55 a.m. Friday, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
At the scene Tuesday, Dembry’s family described him as a “big teddy bear” with a big heart and pleaded for justice.
“We just want to find out who did it. It’s just a lot going on. If anyone knows something, please say something. We want justice. Please say something. Please give us justice,” one of his sisters said.
Reached by phone, family members found out about Robinson’s release from KPRC 2 News, and said they’re upset the police had him in custody, believing there was obvious evidence connecting him to the murder. The family said they believe Robinson is a flight risk who will flee back to Florida.
“We’re hurting and we’re upset,” a family member said. “His grandkids can’t eat or sleep — the family is sick.”
The family asked for anyone with information to come forward.
Court records show Robinson has prior convictions in Florida for drug possession and trafficking, tampering with juror evidence, and other offenses.
In 2022, he was federally convicted in the Southern District of Texas for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. He was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release.
Anyone with information about Robinson’s current whereabouts should contact police or Crime Stoppers to lead to his re-arrest.