A kidnapped girl allegedly killed her captor’s mother with a rock while US marshals tried to rescue her.
Kaitlyn Coones, 17, of Cleveland, Ohio, is accused of murdering Nicole Jones, 53, just days after she was kidnapped by the victim’s pedophile son, Jonathan Jones, 33.
She is said to have given Jones a five-hour ultimatum to kill his mother herself before brutally killing her herself on April 11.
The refugees then fled across the U.S. southern border, sparking an urgent manhunt by U.S. Marshals.
The pair were tracked to Mexico before they were finally found in Ahumada, Chihuahua, almost a month later in May.
The 17-year-old Coones is said to have killed Nicole Jones with a rock
In August, Jones, 33, was charged with aggravated murder, murder, aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse
Nicole Jones, 53, was beaten to death with a rock and strangled in the kitchen of her home
Although he is still 17, Coones is being treated as an adult as he is charged with aggravated murder, murder, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse.
Coones was said to have been picked up at a restaurant by Jonathan Jones, who drove her back to the home he shared with his mother Nicole.
Coones crawled through Jones’ bedroom window to hide from his mother, 16 years his senior, who disapproved of her son having anything to do with the 17-year-old.
Prosecutors allege Coones gave Jonathan an ultimatum to kill his mother because she felt she was interfering in their “relationship.”
Coones told him that he had five hours to carry out the killing when he failed to do so even after giving him an extra hour and decided to take it upon himself.
“Kaitlyn had told Jonathan that they had to do something about his mother because she was stopping them from being together and she gave him five hours to do something about her and at one point in the interview she even mentioned that she wanted to kill her. Sylvania Township Detective Albright said in court Friday.
17-year-old Kaitlyn Coones allegedly killed the mother of her convicted pedophile kidnapper in Ohio
Jonathan Jones lived at home with his mother Nicole in this house in Sylvania Township, Ohio
Prosecutors allege Coones became so frustrated with Jonathan Jones’ inaction that she committed the cold-blooded murder.
“She went outside, got a rock and as Nicole Jones stood in front of the refrigerator in the kitchen, unaware of Kaitlyn’s presence, she struck Nicole Jones multiple times and strangled her,” said Lucas County Prosecutor Andy Lastra.
Jonathan Jones is said to have been sitting in the living room at the time while the brutal act was committed.
The two then drove Jones’ car to some local stores, where they purchased tarps and trash bags to wrap up the body and clean up the bloody crime scene in the kitchen.
Nicole’s body was placed in Jones’ car, which was driven to a nearby apartment complex and thrown into a dumpster that was eventually sent to a landfill.
Police believe it is unlikely that Nicole Jones’ body will ever be found.
Jonathan Jones is said to have been in the living room at the time the brutal act was committed
Coone’s attorney said the teen was a victim of Jonathan Jones, who was said to have had no contact with her
In an interview with the FBI, Coones gave detailed statements and admitted to killing Nicole Jones. She is pictured in court on Friday
The two suspects quickly headed south and crossed the border into Mexico, where they were eventually arrested.
In court Friday, prosecutors said Canton police contacted Sylvania Parish police in May to inquire about the welfare of Nicole Jones.
This came after they received word from a nursing home where Coones had been living that the teenager had texted a nurse telling her she had killed two people and was on the run.
They told police that a 17-year-old foster child in the care of Stark County Children Services who lived in a group home was missing.
They said the teenager, Coones, allegedly sent a text message to a group nurse saying she had killed two people and was on the run.
In an interview with the FBI, Coones gave detailed statements and admitted to killing Nicole Jones.
Her account of where the body had been dumped matched GPS information recorded on Jonathan Jones’ phone and watch.
Coones’ attorney, Ann Baronas, said the teen was a victim of Jonathan Jones, who was said to have had no contact with her.