- The world has lost it's brightest star. November 13, 2013 at 1:00 a.m. Tennessee detectives finally arrested Donnie and indicted him for murder. We tried as much as we could to be respectful' These stars were already taken when they found a new love! On Feb. 4, 2013, Donnie Jones was sentenced to life without parole. Read More: How Did Noreen Kumeta Rudd Die? Visitation will be Friday, July 6, 2012 from 5-8 pm. However, a dark and sinister tale of murder emerged from the embers when the police discovered that it was a womans body on fire. Hours later, her body was discovered on fire on the side of aroad. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. Local blood supply dwindling ahead of spring break, 3 Rivers Energy partners with Jack for renewable energy, Ascend donates $50K to Nature Conservancy, Arnold AFB to receive large equipment delivery, Four Wildcats medal at state championships, Archers score titles at state championships, Adkins, Avans top podium as six Wildcats head to state, Six Lady Wildcats claw their way into state finals, Lincoln County slips by Tullahoma for district crown, Brashear goes beast-mode, ushers Wildcats from tourney, St. Pattys event to benefit A Soldiers Child Foundation, Spinning a yarn Crocheting no longer just grannys hobby, Drummond receives prestigious Silver Key award, Tullahoma First United Methodist Church announces disaffiliation from UM organization, Huntsville authors publish three books about Lincoln County, Historic home site of historic meeting Feb. 25, Chris Brown wins big at 2023 Urban Music Awards, Morgan Evans' life was 'destroyed' by Kelsea Ballerini split. Megan was born to Timothy and Donna Laxton on August 8, 1993. For more on this case and others like it, stream episodes of "An Unexpected Killer" here. Megan promised to be back later, while Chris went to work at a local department store from 5:00 p.m. to midnight. WHNT-19 reported that around 1:00 a.m. on July 1, 2012, a motorist saw a brightly lit fire in the field. In 2012, Megan Sharpton was studying nursing and just months away from collecting her diploma. Your basement may flood if the sump pump goes out, and you may need to rel. In the beginning, the quest for justice kept Kelly Sharpton going. You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or plant a tree in memory of Erika Megan Sharpton. Nieces Chloe' Taylor, Baylee Sharpton, and Lizzy Sharpton. Experts fall on both sides of the fence in this matter. Tullahoma Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Erika Megan Sharpton. It seemed like the fire was set to her private parts, and the victim even wore a nursing school uniform which was completely burnt. People took to blogs and social media to vent their frustrations and speculations about who had done it. I knew of her. In addition, he denied ever talking to Megan outside the time he drove Megan and his wife to school and denied ever receiving a burner phone from Gifford. A celebration of her life will follow at a later date. "I wake up in the morningand I see my dead daughter's face," she said in the first weeks after Megan's July 2012 murder. She knows socially the person believed to be responsible for Megan's murder, a man she calls a predator who had made contact . Authorities quickly put a BOLO alert out for Megans car, as they had yet to account for it. According to her mother and sister, Meganwas due to have dinner with her family on the evening before her body was found. However, soon after, Donnie sought to withdraw his confession claiming that his wife was being threatened with legal charges and that his own attorney led him towards the confession. While following the phone calls trail, the police met up with Naomi Jones, who said she and Megan were just acquaintances. On July 2, 2012, at around 1:30 am, a motorist discovered a fire beside Awalt Road in Franklin County and informed the authorities. It seemed to be a dead-end, as Naomi Jones said she wasnt close with Megan. She loved her family dearly and supported many of us through our ups and downs as we did her. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. We know she met with her boyfriend after speaking with her mother, but he went to work, so he has a good alibi and has been cleared by the Franklin County Sheriffs Department. Next, the GPS data mapped Donnies phone, Megans phone, and the burner to the location where authorities believed Megan was raped and killed, and then finally to the site where two people found Megans body burning. She last talked to her mother (by phone), Kelly Sharpton, at around 3:45 PM that Sunday, when June turned into July. February 23, 2023, 5:15 AM. In November 1998, Brady was found guilty of the first-degree murder of Officer Martin Ganz, and the jury sentenced him to death in 1999. or call 931-455-4657 or email [email protected]. The victim was nude from the waist down. At times during interviews with the Times Free Press, Kelly Sharpton was strong, other times wracked with pain. The circumstances of Erika Megan Sharpton's death (which has been ruled a homicide) are quite unusual. Ms. Sharpton was a Graphic Designer at A.E.D.C. Near 1:30 a.m. thatmorning, investigatorsdiscovered a fire on the side of a rural road was actuallya young womans body set ablaze. With evidence piling high against Donnie Jones Jr., he was arrested and indicted with two counts of aggravated kidnapping, first-degree murder, and two counts of aggravated rape. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. (No Ratings Yet) Sharpton eulogized George Floyd in Minneapolis after he died while in police custody in May 2020. Aunts Anne Hale, Laurie Weeks, and Lisa Sharpton. According to Chris, Megan told him that shed accepted a job offer afriend from nursing school had recommended her for. Many cousins, great aunts, and great uncles. Via school records, police found a woman named Naomi Jones. The amazing Erika Megan Sharpton was torn from us July 2, 2012, age 24. what happened in the end of submergence what happened in the end of submergence Powered by WordPress.com VIP. turkey club sandwich nutrition Uncovering hot babes since 1919.. judge faith twin sister. On Friday, Kelly Elizabeth Hale Sharpton took her own life in a Chattanooga hotel. Tullahoma wrestlers brought home hardware this past weekend as four Wildcat grapplers medaled in the state championships. When the power goes out, it affects more than just your ability to watch TV or read with the lights on. Now, with an official time of death in place, they wereable to determine through surveillance video that Chris was, in fact, working at the department store when Megan was murdered. Many cousins, great aunts, and great uncles. Kelly Sharpton was the mother of Megan Sharpton, whose burned body was found July 2, 2012, at Awalt Road in Franklin County. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Chattanooga Times Free Press, Inc. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. to burn her body with? Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. On Friday, Kelly Elizabeth Hale Sharpton took her own life in a Chattanooga hotel. In 2013, Kelly Sharpton, Megans mother, took her own life. Why was her red Mustang abandoned in the middle of Three Forks Bridge Road? Jones was not charged with the murder of Megan Sharpton, however, only felon in possession of firearms. While police waited for the results, which would take weeks, they arrested Donnie Jones on gun charges related to a rifle they found in his vehicles trunk. She was 47. Erika Megan Sharpton, also known as Megan Sharpton, was a Tennessee woman who was found dead and burning in what was thought to be a grass fire five years ago. If Megan hadnt lost her life, I feel very confident that Donnie Jones would still be out, trying to trick young women, said Megans sister, Carrie. The GPS evidence also allowed them to place Donnie at the location where they suspected he had raped Megan and also at the place where the victims body was found. Kelly Sharpton was the mother of Megan Sharpton, whose burned body was found July 2, 2012, at Awalt Road in Franklin County. Megan Sharpton Death - Obituary | Cause Of Death - Dead - Dies | Died - Passed Away | Click to Read and Leave Tributes. Granlund and Niederreiter both score 2, Preds top Sharks 6-2,Mikael Granlund and Nino Niederreiter each scored twice, and the Nashville Predators beat. Enter 25 days since this terrible homicide, and no suspects are yet emerging. She was a compassionate, caring soul, and planned a career in nursing. DNA and CODIS linked the murder of Megan Sharpton to an ex-con named Donnie Frank Jones Jr., according to the website Blink On Crime. The Circumstances of Megan Sharptons Murder are Incredibly Bizarre! Sharpton's 1995 Ford Mustang was found the same day on Three Forks Bridge Road in Bedford County. Then, once exiting the car, how did the perpetrator get away? Strode Funeral Home and Cremation. It led us to believe thered been a sexual assault, Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller told producers. Visitation will be Friday, July 6, 2012 from 5-8 pm. "We're waiting for him to get the expert mental evaluation done," Taylor said. He was the son of the late . Death Notice. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. The episode, titled "An Exclusive First Look into the Case of Megan Sharpton," will air at 8 p.m. on Friday on Oxygen's 1465 HD channel on Comcast and will also appear on channel 129, which . Megan's car, a red 1995 Ford MUstang, was found near Highway 64 on Three Forks Bridge Road. Visitation with the family will be held Tuesday, November 12, 2013 from 4:00PM till 7:00 PM at Tullahoma Funeral Home. "The. Ms. Sharpton was born in Milan, TN to Maurice and Margaret Stepp Hale. Kelly Elizabeth Hale Sharpton, of Tullahoma, died Friday, Nov. 8, at Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga. Read more about the life story of Erika and share your memory. | Updated November 13, 2013 at 12:27 p.m. Megan Sharpton's accused killer, Donnie Jones Jr., 37, faced first-degree murder, kidnapping and rape charges and pleaded guilty on Feb. 4, 2013, in Franklin County Circuit Court. The 24-year-old was descibed as a bright star and a caring soul, she was studying a nursing program at. Through surveillance footage, investigators followed the unknown mans movements to the stores exit and out to the parking lot, where the customer approached a red pickup truck. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Recently, Inquisitr brought you the story of Shelley Mook, a missing Shelbyville, Tennessee, mother who vanished in 2011. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Moreover, Megans purse was found 5 miles away from where her body was dumped, which was then set on fire. Megan was a goal-oriented woman whod worked her way through school and was just two months shy of graduating college. Frustrated and running out of leads, investigators looked to a GPS analysis of the phones belonging to Megan Sharpton, Donnie Jones, Timothy Gifford, and the burner phone. But there was one more thing that let Kelly Hale Sharpton know immediately that it was her missing daughter the dead woman had two star tattoos on her body. Tullahoma Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Erika Megan Sharpton. All Death, Burial, Cemetery & Obituaries results for Megan Sharpton. Then their communication stopped where police later found Megans car. Why not take the car to a less obvious place to get rid of it? Contact staff writer Ben Benton at [email protected] or 423-757-6569. The amazing Erika Megan Sharpton was torn from us July 2, 2012, age 24. Megan Sharpton Obituary - Death, Cause Of Death, Funeral: We learned about the passing of Megan Sharpton.click to read and leave tributes.. But in August 2015, those plans came to a shocking and abrupt halt. Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller said that Donnie Jones has been arrested in connection with the case. Death notices for Feb. 23. The episode pertaining to Megan Sharpton is titled Answering The Call. IDs Murder Comes To Town is a riveting crime series that analyzes cases that have happened in small towns. Her car was found burned in a remote field. ", "I have met many courageous people fighting for justice in the face of horrific tragedy. Sharpton, of Tullahoma, was pronounced dead at Erlanger hospital of an apparent suicide, though the case is still under investigation, according to Officer Tim McFarland of the Chattanooga Police Department. Megan Sharpton Obituary - Death : Megan Sharpton- Funeral: Passed Away - We learnt on March, 29th, 2021, that Megan Sharpton has died with loved ones left in total devastation. Tullahoma, TN- Donnie Frank Jones, Jr, the primary suspect in the rape and murder of Megan Sharpton the evening of July 1, 2012, has been indicted for her rape and murder today in Franklin County, TN.. Additional arrests are expected in this case. Was it a sexual assault that led to rage (when his advances were rejected), then the bludgeoning occurs? In an interview with CNN, Kelly Hale Sharpton discussed her daughters love for people. Uncles David (Kelsey) Hale and Alex Sharpton. [Jones] essentially killed them both, said Detective Dyer. 2017-2023 Tribute Archive. Agents from the TBI and investigators from the Franklin County Sheriff's Department spent July 4 gathering evidence in connection with the murder of 24-year-old Erika Megan Sharpton of Tullahoma, who He was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison. Tullahoma Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Erika Megan Sharpton. Months after the tragedy, 37-year-old Donnie Jones Jr. was arrested and charged with first degree murder, two counts of especially aggravated kidnapping, and two counts of aggravated rape. Donnie Jones is just a cold-blooded killer, said Detective Dyer. Sharpton's 1995 Ford Mustang was found on Three Forks Bridge Road in Bedford County. But when detectives arrived they found the smoldering corpse of a dead female. can stop at any time. Its interesting that he brutally killed Megan, but when it came to his own life, he wanted to spare it. She was very loved by her family, her friends, and the whole community. Thats the chronology of the crime in an unfolding time lapse. According to the boyfriend, the recommendation for the new job came from a former nursing school classmate of Megans named Naomi. In motion, always alive, always vibrant.. Invalid password or account does not exist. In February, Donnie Jones Jr. pleaded guilty to raping and murdering Megan, a 24-year-old Tullahoma nursing student and was sentenced to life in state prison without parole. Megan mentioned she would try to hook up with a possible patient (Megan was a nursing student), an elderly lady, I believe. On Nov. 5, 2012, the state charged Donnie Jones with first-degree murder, rape, and two counts of aggravated kidnapping. Donnie initially denied contacting Megan and even denied getting a burner cell. Messages run for up to one year and you Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. Kelly Sharpton did not want her daughter to be remembered as that burned girl found on the side of the road. So she wrote the message Megan is her name on a rock at the site. Funeral Home website by. pic.twitter.com/WeN8vEqm, Tanya Reeves (@reeves_tanya) September 28, 2012, Mothers Fight To Put Killer Behind Bars Ends In Her Own Tragic Death. According to the autopsy report, Megan was sexually assaulted before the murder. Eugene Brennan. pic.twitter.com/OAt6Wxm7, The Tullahoma News (@TullahomaNews) November 16, 2012. The Inquisitr is a registered trademark. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in the book. Three weeks later, Jones sought to change his plea, citing inadequate legal counsel.Mike Taylor, district attorney in the 12th Judicial District, said an appointed counsel for Jones has formalized his motion. However, when the foreign DNA on the victims body matched Donnies, the latter claimed that he had consensual sex with Megan and was not involved in her death. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. 'We're losing control of our own children,'" he continued. Kyle, 27, lived there with his girlfriend, Jennifer Valiante, 31. A few storms may be severe. Megan was born on October 24, 1987 in Tullahoma, TN and died there July 2, 2012. www.tullahomafuneralhome.com. She was later identified as 24-year-old Erika Megan Sharpton of Coffee County. Initially, the police had multiple leads in the investigation, and they even looked at Megans boyfriend as a suspect. Naturally, if she didnt know her killer, we might apply the ubiquitous serial killer theory. Theres a fit here also, if a naive and caring Ms. Sharpton, say, picked up a ragged hitchhiker of some kind. When confronted with the DNA evidence, Donnie switched gears and alleged that he and Megan had a consensual sexual affair. She was very loved by her family, her friends, and the whole community. I understand the communitys anger, but they have a different perspective, she said. Thats my call, and another call is that she knew her killer, if only vaguely. Megan put him behind bars for life. This is a distinct possibility! She was 47. Though they couldnt trace the number back to an owner, Detective Hindman did trace the phone to a local department store where someone had purchased it. Reached at home this evening, Kelly Hale Sharpton, Meg's Mother, declined comment until tomorrow morning. We cherish the time we had with our Megan and are grateful for the breadth and variety of experiences we were able to share in her tragically abbreviated life. 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