An arrest has been made in a missing man’s case whose remains were found last year inside a burned vehicle in Spring.
Dominique Johnson, who turned 48 Wednesday, has been charged with murder and arson and is in custody.
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On Oct. 1, 2024, firefighters responded to a call about a car on fire at a construction site between Ella Boulevard and Montgomery Road, located on the Houston and Harris County lines. After extinguishing the fire, a vehicle—later identified as a gray 2016 Buick La Crosse sedan belonging to 44-year-old Winsolon Trahan—was left at the scene.
Trahan had been reported the day before and investigators found his skeletal remains days later inside the charred vehicle.
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Following months of investigation, which included multiple witness interviews, reviewing hours of security camera footage, processing forensic evidence, and examining electronic devices, Homicide Detectives identified Johnson as a suspect.
On March 31, 2025, the case was presented to a Harris County Grand Jury, which accepted felony charges of murder and arson against Johnson. At the time of his arrest, Johnson was already incarcerated at the Harris County Jail on an unrelated charge.
According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, detectives noticed that Johnson had injuries consistent with flash burns during their interview with him. He claimed the injuries were from a four-wheeler, but investigators were skeptical of his explanation.
Authorities reported that Trahan was last seen near Ella Boulevard and State Highway 249, driving his car. Investigators later tracked his vehicle to the Hampton/Beckley Street area in Houston, but all contact with him was lost.
The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office stated that arson investigators initially believed the remains found in the vehicle were those of a dog, and the Medical Examiner’s Office was not notified at that time. Fire Marshal officials indicated that the car was towed within 24 hours, and at that point, no one was aware that the vehicle belonged to a missing person.
Trahan’s wife, Cameilia Trahan, expressed relief that an arrest has been made but declined to give an interview at this time.
