After McCarthy's murder, detectives investigated local bars and found a witness who had seen them together and knew Johansen's alias. Police arrested him in Los Angeles on July 9, 1940, as he walked out of a meeting. Employees of the hotel identified him as the man last seen with McCarthy, and he subsequently confessed to Coffin's and McCarthy's murders. He then revealed his true identity, and told them how he murdered his first wife. Johansen was charged with the two California murders. Although he wanted to plea guilty, his public defender would not allow him to, so he instead pleaded innocent. However, Johansan again changed his plea from innocent to not guilty by reason of insanity. Believing he was insane, he sought confinement in asylum, once telling the judge, "I'll kill some other woman if you free me. I'll do it again, sure!"
