*Portage man Nicholas Johnson is already serving 29 to 69 years in prison for killing his parents when he was accused of murdering 17-year-old Bonifacio Pena in 2018. Johnson faces five counts of charges including an open murder charge related to Pena's disappearance and presumed death. The body has never been found.*

A Portage man already serving a prison sentence for killing his parents was in court Friday for a hearing tied to the 2018 murder of a Gobles teen.

Nicholas Johnson is accused of killing 17-year-old Bonifacio "Facio" Pena, whose body has never been found.

This picture was taken during a preliminary examination on Friday, May 15, 2026. (Bill Krupka/WWMT)

He is charged with five counts, including an open murder charge related to Pena's disappearance and presumed death, according to court documents obtained by News Channel 3.

During Friday's court hearing, which lasted less than two hours, the prosecution presented two witnesses to support their case.

One of the key witnesses was a woman who testified she had a romantic relationship with Pena at the time of his disappearance. She claimed Johnson was jealous of her relationship with Pena and had approached her with plans to break into a home.

"I asked if I could go with them, but Nicholas said that it was no job for a female," Rachel Diffenderfer testified.

She further stated that Johnson and Pena went out together on the night of Pena's disappearance, but only Johnson returned.

Diffenderfer also claimed Johnson appeared wet, and had what seemed to be a bloodstain on his sweatshirt.

A Portage Public Safety detective also provided testimony, noting the challenges in searching the area where the incident allegedly occurred due to swampy conditions.

Judge Beckett Jones is expected to announce his decision on whether the case moves to trial May 22.

What Happened to Bonifacio Facio Pena?

Around the time of his disappearance, Pena was staying with Johnson, a woman they both knew and the two tenants of the apartment. Those tenants had been letting the trio stay there because they were homeless when they first met, according to court documents.

On the night Pena disappeared, one of the tenants said they saw Johnson and Pena walk out of the apartment towards the woods. Later, they said they heard gunshots in the direction that Johnson and Pena had walked shortly after the two left.

Johnson was the only one to return, and he was covered in mud, according to court documents.

When he came back, Johnson demanded that his clothes were washed that night. He was then seen burning the boots and sweatshirt he had been wearing, court documents detailed.

The mutual friend of Pena and Johnson said the day before Pena disappeared, Johnson had walked in on her and Pena engaged in sexual acts, which she said he seemed upset by.

Related: Convicted murderer faces new charges in 2018 disappearance of Gobles teen

The next day, Johnson came up with a story that he had met a girl at the mall, and together, they found a house with a large amount of money and guns in it, according to reports.

This is how police say Johnson was able to lure Pena into the woods that night.

Johnson allegedly told Pena that the two of them could go get the items, but would have to do so army style through the woods.

Johnson told the mutual friend she could not come because it was no job for a girl.

She later told police Johnson's answer was confusing as Johnson claimed to have already been at the house with the girl he met at the mall.

In the days after Johnson came back from the woods, the tenants said he was muttering to himself around the apartment about not talking to the police and not taking a polygraph.

When the tenants confronted him about where Pena was, they recall Johnson replied wouldnt you like to know.

An Investigation Into Pena's Disappearance Begins

Officers with the Portage Public Safety Department were called May 26, 2018 on reports of Johnson pounding on the doors, yelling the same thing that happened to Bonifacio is going to happen to you.

Investigators said they have not found any signs of Pena in the area where he was last seen, and there is no record of him leaving the country.

Pena's family is also adamant that he would have gotten in contact with them if he had left the country, according to court documents.

During interviews, police said Johnson shared several different versions of what happened that night.

He was confronted about Pena's disappearance while in jail on unrelated charges, and was accused of murdering the teenager.

Within days of getting out of jail, Johnson went to Denver, Colorado to see a friend from high school in an attempt to stay with them. When the friend said no, Johnson was homeless again.

Johnson Pleads No Contest to Parent's Murder

When police were called Johnson's parents' home in February 2021, Gary and Laura Johnson were missing and large amounts of blood were found inside the house.

Both of Johnson's parents were eventually found a few miles away, shot and buried in a shallow grave.

Two years later, Johnson pleaded no contest to murdering his parents.

He was sentenced in Oct. 2023 to 29-69 years in prison for the murders, News Channel 3 previously reported.

Related: Portage man sentenced to up to 69 years in prison for killing, burying his parents

Since being back in prison, Johnson has been interviewed about Pena, but to no avail.

When questioned about Pena, Johnson has said that, if he could get out of prison, he would help look for Pena at the places they used to hang out, according to police.

Based on these accounts, investigators say they believe Johnson murdered Pena out of jealousy because of Pena's relationship with their mutual friend.

"She later told police Johnson's answer was confusing as Johnson claimed to have already been at the house with the girl he met at the mall."

"When the tenants confronted him about where Pena was, they recall Johnson replied wouldnt you like to know."

"She further stated that Johnson and Pena went out together on the night of Pena's disappearance, but only Johnson returned."

"Diffenderfer also claimed Johnson appeared wet, and had what seemed to be a bloodstain on his sweatshirt."

"Johnson allegedly told Pena that the two of them could go get the items, but would have to do so army style through the woods."

"Johnson told the mutual friend she could not come because it was no job for a girl."

"Investigators said they have not found any signs of Pena in the area where he was last seen, and there is no record of him leaving the country."

"Both of Johnson's parents were eventually found a few miles away, shot and buried in a shallow grave."

"He was sentenced in Oct. 2023 to 29-69 years in prison for the murders, News Channel 3 previously reported."

"Based on these accounts, investigators say they believe Johnson murdered Pena out of jealousy because of Pena's relationship with their mutual friend."