The recording drew national attention because Tia remained on the telephone and answered the dispatcher’s questions while trying to understand what had happened. Her age and composure made the call memorable, but the case is about far more than a recording of a child in distress.
Julie and Aeneas had reported threats from the man investigators later identified as the gunman. In January 2005, they asked a court for a protective injunction. The request was denied. That history remains central to the case, although it must be examined carefully rather than reduced to the claim that one legal order would certainly have prevented the attack.
|
| Representative image of a young child. This is not an authenticated photograph of Tia Hernlen. |
A Young Family in Volusia County
Julie, 31, and Aeneas, 29, were raising their daughter in Volusia County. They had lived in the Virgin Islands before returning to Florida and were working toward a stable future for their family.
Family accounts remembered Aeneas as energetic, practical, and closely connected to the coast. Julie was remembered as intelligent, determined, and devoted to her daughter. These details matter because they restore two individual lives that can otherwise disappear behind the 911 call associated with their deaths.
Tia was five years old and was asleep in another room when the shooting occurred. She was not physically injured in the attack.
|
| Julie Morgan-Hernlen and Aeneas Hernlen, Tia’s parents. David Edward Johnson falsely blamed them for a law enforcement report they had not made. |
The False Accusation Behind the Attack
Investigators identified the gunman as David Edward Johnson, 33, an acquaintance of the couple. Authorities said Johnson believed Julie and Aeneas had reported him for growing marijuana and possessing steroids.
The sheriff’s office said that belief was false. The Hernlens had not provided the report that led law enforcement to Johnson. Even so, he directed his anger toward them and had made threats before the shooting.
Julie and Aeneas reported that Johnson had driven near their home and threatened them. In January 2005, they applied for an injunction for protection against repeat violence. According to court papers cited in contemporary reporting, the request was denied because no prior violence had been alleged and the available claims were considered insufficient to establish stalking.
|
| David Edward Johnson, whom investigators identified as the gunman. Authorities said he wrongly believed Julie and Aeneas Hernlen had reported him to law enforcement. |
The Night of the Attack
Investigators said Johnson entered the Hernlen home shortly before 3 a.m. Julie and Aeneas were in their bedroom, while Tia was asleep nearby.
Johnson shot both parents. Julie died at the scene. Aeneas was taken to a hospital in Daytona Beach and placed on life support, but he died on March 29.
Johnson returned to his own home and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound later that day. Because he died before he could be arrested or tried, there was no criminal trial. The conclusion that he was responsible came from the evidence gathered by investigators rather than a courtroom verdict.
The 911 Call
After hearing the gunfire, Tia entered her parents’ room and saw that they were not responding. She found a telephone and called 911, telling the dispatcher that she could see blood and believed her parents might be dead.
Dispatcher Donna Choufani used a calm voice and short questions to keep the child focused. Tia gave her age, described the house and the family pets, and explained what she had heard. Choufani reassured her and remained on the line while deputies were sent to the home.
911 Call Excerpt
Tia: “I think they’re dead.”
Dispatcher: “What do you mean, sweetheart?”
Tia: “I don’t know.”
Dispatcher: “How old are you?”
Tia: “I’m 5 years old.”
Parts of the publicly released call were reported by CBS News and Associated Press coverage.
Archival coverage containing the publicly released 911 call. The recording documents how a five-year-old child communicated with a dispatcher during the emergency.
The call lasted approximately three minutes. Tia remained on the line until a deputy reached the front door. Her answers gave the dispatcher the information needed to keep her engaged and guide responders to her safely.
Why the Call Drew National Attention
The recording captures a child trying to describe an emergency she was too young to fully understand. Its emotional force comes from that reality, which is also why it should be presented with context and not treated simply as disturbing audio.
Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson praised the amount of information Tia was able to provide and the composure she showed at five years old. Her actions helped bring assistance to the house.
The dispatcher’s response was equally important. She avoided overwhelming Tia, asked questions the child could answer, and offered reassurance until a deputy arrived.
The Request for Court Protection
The request for an injunction shows that Julie and Aeneas had identified Johnson as a threat before the shooting. They reported threatening conduct and attempted to use the legal process available to them.
The court denied the application under the information and legal standard before it at the time. The judge later acknowledged that, with hindsight, he wished the matter had been handled differently. The sheriff also noted that a restraining order may not have stopped a person determined to commit violence.
It would therefore be inaccurate to claim that granting the injunction would certainly have prevented the deaths. What the record does establish is that Julie and Aeneas had expressed fear, documented threatening behavior, and sought protection less than three months before the attack.
The Aftermath
Tia was placed in the care of relatives. Members of the local community and people connected to Aeneas’ workplace helped establish financial support for her future, including education and living expenses.
Johnson’s death meant that the evidence would never be examined in a murder trial. For the family, there was no courtroom verdict, only the findings of the investigation and the permanent consequences of the attack. Tia’s privacy was protected after the killings and should continue to be respected.
Why This Case Still Matters
The case is remembered because a five-year-old child was able to call for help when no adult in the home could do so. The recording also shows the value of a dispatcher who understood how to communicate calmly with a frightened child.
The 911 call records the aftermath, but it is not the entire story. Before the shooting there had been accusations, threats, police contact, and an unsuccessful request for court protection. Those events remain relevant to discussions about how stalking and escalating threats are assessed before physical violence occurs.
Julie and Aeneas Hernlen should be remembered as Tia’s parents and as two people with lives beyond the circumstances of their deaths. Tia is a survivor whose most painful childhood experience became public. Responsible coverage can examine the case while still protecting her dignity and privacy.
Sources: CBS News/AP, “5-Year-Old’s 911 Call For Help”; Associated Press/WAVE, “5-Year-Old Florida Girl To 911 Dispatcher”; Tampa Bay Times archive, “A Small, Calm Voice”; Parents of Murdered Children Memorial Wall, Julie Morgan-Hernlen and Aeneas Hernlen case summary; Volusia County Sheriff statements reported in contemporary news coverage.