George Robert Johnston (1954–2004), better known as the "Ballarat Bandit" or John Doe #39‑04, was a Canadian-born burglar and fugitive originally from Prince Edward Island. Starting in 2003, he carried out a string of burglaries in and around Ballarat, California, expertly evading law enforcement across remote terrain—often on foot and without resupply—for more than a year before being cornered by authorities in Death Valley. Rather than face capture, Johnston died by suicide via gunshot in mid‑2004. His identity remained unknown until 2006, when fingerprint records linked him back to Canada, revealing him as a beloved father of four and husband whose motives remain unclear.