Yellow ribbons hug the trees surrounding the house of Paul Johnson III in Port St. John as Johnson meets the press shortly after his dad was kidnapped in June. Image © 2004, Michael R. Brown, FLORIDA TODAY.

Paul Johnson Jr.'s son vows to press on
for more info on dad

Meeting today with Sen. Nelson is canceled

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Brevard County son of an American contractor beheaded in Saudi Arabia said today that he is pressing ahead with plans to lobby for more information about his father's body, even though Saudi officials believe they have found some remains.

Paul Johnson III of Port St. John was told by the FBI that Saudi security forces believe they found the head of his father, Paul Johnson Jr., a 49-year-old engineer for Lockheed Martin, who was kidnapped and beheaded by Saudi militants last month.

"They told me that they killed some militants last night and that they had found some remains," Paul Johnson III told The Associated Press today by telephone from Washington. "They don't want to tell me that they're my father's yet because they want to confirm them."

Two militants were killed in that raid, during which the head was found in a freezer, the Interior Ministry said today. Paul Johnson Jr.'s body was not found, officials said.

Paul Johnson III was in Washington to meet with U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Melbourne, and to urge the Saudi embassy to provide more information about his father's remains.

That meeting was scheduled before Johnson III learned of the discovery of his father's head. The meeting was later canceled, according to Nelson's office.

"I may backtrack to the Saudi embassy and backtrack to the FBI . . . I'm pressing ahead to find out what's going on," Johnson III said. "I really want to know. This is my whole reason why I came to Washington."

Washington, DC, Jul. 20 (UPI) -- Wayne Johnson, brother of beheaded engineer Paul Johnson, was arrested Tuesday for protesting outside the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Washington.

Johnson was joined by the nonprofit Global Peace Initiative to protest what the group characterized as neglect by authorities at the Saudi Embassy.

Group founder K.A. Paul said Johnson requested his brother's remains and information about his death. Paul said he and Johnson asked for a meeting with Saudi Ambassador Prince Bandar but were denied.

"I believe that I'm finally doing something good," said Johnson. "I have to show (the Saudi government) that I'm serious."

After approaching the entrance to the embassy alone, Johnson was warned three times to leave the property by U.S. Secret Service. He refused and was arrested for unlawful assembly.

Johnson was taken to the Third District Station of the Metropolitan Police Department. Global Peace spokesman Doug Dodson said the organization would pay bail for Johnson to be released.