Most Wanted Wednesday: We feature three of SWFL’s most wanted suspects; Oct. 30

Reporter: Rich Kolko
Published: Updated:
Bret Bush, Bethany Johnson, Timothy Stiltner

This weekly WINK News segment features fugitives from justice right here in Southwest Florida.

This is your chance to help out the community and give the tip that gets these people off the street. These suspects need to be found – and you can help. If you have seen them, reach out to Crime Stoppers or your local law enforcement. Call 1-800-780-TIPS (8477).

Here are three suspects wanted by Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers.

Bret Bush

Bret Bush (DOB 10/19/72) recently violated terms of his probation in Lee County after being charged with multiple counts of fraud, theft and the illegal use of credit cards. The victim said he rarely used the card, so he had no idea it had been stolen.

By the time he was alerted that his account had been compromised, Bush completed at least 14 transactions to the tune of several hundred dollars each. When questioned about the stolen card, Bush spouted off a few different stories pleading his innocence, but at the end of the day, the video didn’t lie – Deputies say Bush was caught on store cameras red-handed repeatedly using the stolen plastic.

In addition to that arrest, Bush has been booked three other times on charges including drug possession. This 46-year-old offender is 5’8”, 135 pounds, and has several tattoos, including the name Kleo on his left hand, a portrait of a dog on his right leg and a heart with the name Judy on his right ankle.

Bethany Johnson

Bethany Nell Johnson (DOB 2/26/57) Johnson is a Naples woman wanted for failing to show up in court on multiple counts of the possession of drugs and paraphernalia. Deputies day Johnson is a repeat offender in Collier County with an extensive criminal history that spans a wide variety of infractions.

To date, she’s been arrested for the possession of amphetamines, cocaine, and heroin, evidence tampering, burglary, fraud, white-collar crimes against the elderly, fleeing and eluding officers and check forgery.

Johnson has also been sent to state prison twice for a term of just over four years. Johnson was last known to be living in the Golden Gate area, working as a nail tech.

She is 5’7”, 180 pounds and may be using the aliases of Bethany Faulkner or Brenda Lou Johnson, as well as her street names of “Bea”, “Buffy” and “Zena.

Timothy Stiltner

Timothy Stiltner (DOB 4/27/72) is a repeat offender in Collier County who has left a criminal footprint in at least three Florida counties. This fugitive has been on the lam for the last three months after violating probation on his second battery arrest.

To date, Stiltner has been jailed six times in Collier, two times in Lee and at least once in Hillsborough for a wide array of charges, including the sale and delivery of meth, resisting, felony battery, drug possession, and two separate DUI charges. Detectives say Stiltner is likely to be lying low in the Copeland or Chokoloskee areas of south Collier, possibly working off the books as a crabber, a boat captain, a mechanic or a fisherman.

If you have a tip on the whereabouts of any of these wanted suspects contact Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers. All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000.

Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers
1-800-780-TIPS (8477) or
southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com

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