Suspect In Rape And Murder Of Megan Sharpton Is Arrested- Donnie Frank Jones In Custody For Felony Gun Possession
Donnie Frank Jones, Jr, 37, of Tullahoma, TN was arrested this afternoon after a search warrant at his home revealed the convicted felon was in possession of a firearm. The elementary school which is also on Bel Air Drive, was in lockdown this afternoon during the search.
Jones is the prime suspect in the brutal murder of Megan Sharpton, and is linked to her death via a CODIS match as previously reported on BOC.
Details are still emerging, check back to www.blinkoncrime.com for updates.
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After looking at the facebook link to Naomi, she is not an unattractive person or at least at the time of the photo. What is in her mind regarding behavior is a mystry. Evil sometimes masquerades as something attractive.
First she hooks up illeagly with a prisnor while on the job. She gets away with it for whatever reason. Now she is probably the one who setup the fake job story to send Megan to a place where at least Donnie was waiting and maybe someone else. Did she think that Megan might be harmed by such an act? I have no doubt that she wanted Megan to be hurt.
There needs to be a warrant issued for Naomi’s arrest to get her back for interrogation. There should be something regarding fleeing from a CPS investigation or some other charge that could be applied for the warrant. Why not the unlawful sexual contact with a prisoner unless the statute of limitations has expired.
If the Tennessee legislature was doing its job to protect people, they would never have placed the sexual contact by anyone working in the criminal justice system with a prisoner to be a class E felony. Most states have this offense as a 20 year to life sentence.
This is a bit delicate, yet there have been several references and some subtle inferences to the brutality within the murder of Meg Sharpton.
Paragraph 1 of the article before this one (Megan Sharpton murder suspect declares himself just that:family and alleged accomplice terrified of Donnie Jones)mentions the word “mutilation” and I knew that was not an analysis we were going to broach until trial or incarceration.
In the current article, dated 27 September, Blink writes that “Jones is the prime suspect in the*brutal* murder of Megan Sharpton, and is linked to her death via a CODIS match as previously reported on BOC.”
Commenting yesterday, 28 September, 8:09pm, Blink again references “the brutal facts of this case” in regard to the full picture of the suspect(s)’ psychopathy/criminality.
********************************************************************************************************
The balance of Word Girl’s post most respectfully redacted by blink for investigative reasons.
I hope you do not mind Word, but I can’t go there publicly yet, and even if I could, I might choose to not publish that for strategic reasons to the case.
One of the things the astute reader and contributor at BOC experiences in cases I work on directly that I also choose to write on, is that hyper-state of understanding that comes with literally watching the case unfold before you.
You picked up what I put down before I realized I was putting it down, lol.
If it is ok with you, you have my word full disclosure will appear here as soon as I can.
B
Was Naomi jealous of Meg?
@flgirl. Since this was premeditated, and it was set up by wife, it seemed to me the Jones might have been
worried she knew something about one or both of their activities on the criminal side, maybe she
hadn’t put 2 and 2 together yet, but it seems the intention was to silence her (via blunt force trauma).
Did the Mrs have a job with access to drugs?
I’m trying to understand the carpooling situation. Meg was a nursing student carpooling with Naomi, an LPN. I am assuming that the nursing program was at the same facility where Naomi worked? Was it a nursing home or hospital? Was Meg subordinate to Naomi in any way at this facility? Also, did they take turns driving or did Naomi always do the driving?
If Naomi left town, did she take the kids?
Naomi was a CNA attending school to achieve her LPN. Meg was in her second year, iirc, I also believe Meg’s maternal grandmother was a nurse as well. Meg was not subordinate to Naomi in any way, and on occasion they took turns driving or Naomi kicked in gas money. Donnie stayed home with the kids, and Naomi actually had 2 different jobs after achieving her LPN license in October 2011.
Naomi went to stay with her mother and has enrolled the children in school. I am not posting location for obvious reasons but LE knows where she is of course.
B
Was there a witness to an incident on the bridge from earlier that afternoon on July 1st? If so, was this relevant to the case?
Which incident are you referring to Queenie ( and I like your hat)
B
Rose
I think that I read that Naomi and Megan traveled to work together daily. Megan was in the vehicle at least thirty minutes. Naomi is a reckless woman for hooking up with Donnie and having children while he was still in jail. She could be involved in a lot of things. Some that involved Donnie and some that may not have involved him or TG.
If she thought that Megan had learned something about those activities, IMO she would take steps to have Megan silenced. Megan was raped and beaten or beaten and then raped. There may be some forensic evidence of the rape that will point to either DJ or TG. With the fire, it may be difficult to determine. I can only hope that it will be available.
In regards to the house search, it seems that TG gave LE the tip. While the search for the weapon was going on LE picked up other evidence tying DJ to the act. Is he acting alone or does he have help from TG? IDK.
It appears to me that TG is trying to strike first in order to get a plea deal if evidence indicates he is directly or indirectly involved.
Megan was a tall slender young woman with long thin bones and long muscle structure in her limbs. This is determined from the photo in this piece. While she may have been strong, a fight is about strength and total weight. A mass force relationship just like an auto and a bus. Another thing is that women, being nurturers rather than warriors, have to be taught to overcome the tendency to pull punches so as not to injure another. Men don’t do that. Donnie Jones is thought to be 240 lbs in weight. That is just too much mass for a woman a hundred plus pounds lighter to overcome.
I don’t know the physical size of TG, but from the photo that shows his tin plated teeth he does not appear to be small. This is why Blink always says to run if you can.
To confirm, Meg was 5’8″ and 124 lbs at the time of her murder. Donnie was 6’1″ and 240 lbs as listed on his DL, and Gifford is 5’5″ of average weight.
Donnie Jones had limited mobility of his left arm, although nobody I have interviewed has said this injury was particularly debilitating for daily use, and he was right handed.
He filed a personal injury suit in August against his surgeons who previously removed skin cancer from his neck. I feel he did this for three reasons.
1. To dangle a million dollar payout to his wife or others as some intention to buy silence.
2. To facilitate the potential for a quick settlement equal malpractice insurance guidelines for same, and if necessary legal fees or bond cash in the event he was arrested.
3. To have a forum and record to document limitations to his mobility and activity for defense of Meg’s case.
There is no doubt in my mind, that the wounds associated with Meg’s death and disposal will be found to reflect that more than one person, given Jone’s issue, will be associated with them.
That said, I am also pretty confident that the traumatic wounds to Meg’s head will be forensically determined to have been made by someone taller than her. That leaves Donnie.
I would also like to speak in a general way to anyone reading here who may have prior information about Donnie Jones or Tim Gifford and may be scared to come forward to LE directly.
I am not going to say how many, but I can tell you that I have personally vetted several tips of relevance regarding both these two individuals, in particular to rape and associated behavior- Donnie Jones. I know it is a very real feeling that in the past, he has gotten away with some truly horrific acts against women, and I know you have the sense that you fear retribution from some members of his family because that may have indeed occurred.
I am talking directly to you. He is in jail, and he is not getting out. There is nobody that is going to stand up for this man, and if you prefer not to be interviewed by LE as some of you have stated, you have my word that you can maintain your anonymity.
Why am I asking you to trust me with your private pain?
The first answer is because you can. The second is because I know from my education, training and experience a crime like this with his associated criminal chronology does not happen in a vaccum.
He has lived in other areas, and it is my personal belief that he may be tied to other victims, and likely other crimes.
This information is critical to building offender profile information which helps us in determining how to educate and raise awareness to women to protect themselves in the future. I am deeply committed to that, as I know the Sharpton family is as well.
B
ps. Thanks for letting me “tail” your post ATG.
Sorry if I’ve missed this …
I’ve read that CPS was/is involved.
Also read that Naomi has fled the area.
Question is … Did she take the babes with her?? (hoping she left the kiddo’s with some family member with some sense of responsibility)
They have been enrolled in school elsewhere.
B
Just asking… Can people say what they thing MIGHT have happened!? I was just curious about peoples options on how they think this went down!!
I am not sure what you are asking exactly, Momma. I have not received an email response from you as you requested, fyi.
I know you mentioned you were told that this was a “hit”, a murder for hire- can you expand on what you heard or were told please.
B
Ragdoll says – This isn’t about TG…but if you feel so compelled, start a blog for his advocacy. That’s where your posts belong; not on Megan’s thread.
~~~~~~~
Absolutely true, Doll, and thanks for saying this!
@Christy – I just want to say how lucky Tullahoma is to have folks like you living there. I know there are a few locals, Meg’s Mama being one, posting here, advocating for justice for Meg and family.
It’s a beautiful sight, and y’alls strength and determination will reclaim your community.
I’ve never seen so much heart and love coming from such a small place. Y’all do your town proud!
Blink, am thinking of you, and your Ma Mere flying high up in the clouds beaming down with pride on her beautiful daughter.
Ty friend.
B
Blink
You know that I never have reservations about your adding something to a post of mine. I am just glad that the post provided an opportunity for getting additional information to the public.
Donnie Jones has been a criminal for a good portion of his life. We don’t have his rap sheet or his juvinile records to work from. There may indeed be crimes he committed for which LE has found no connection. Now is the time to get out the unsolved cases in the counties around Tullohoma and see if he indeed created them.
Is there anyway I can send you a private message?
Yes, just post here, and mark the top line private. Nobody but you and I will see it until I delete it. It will say “Awaiting moderation” until then, but I want to be clear it is completely private between myself and you, or any other poster that leaves me a private message with the first line marked private.
The software I use is “cued” by the word private in multiple permutations and nobody but me has access to any of it.
B
Thank you, yes, I am aware. Can you be reached at the email address you provided and is it ok if I email you a question that I have a concern if I posted publicly would compromise your anonymity?
As a general message to all those in the local community. I would be proud to live among you. What a group of compassionate up-standing people you are in the face of such a heinous tragedy.
I have had cases where the suspect and the victim were located in the same area before, and I can tell you from experience that sadly, many locals just wanted the whole mess to go away quietly.
Your community has been very clear that they wish to be heard and that they want justice for Megan and have stepped up to effect that in every way.
As I said, I would be proud to call you neighbors, and it would be ok if behind my back y’all agreed I talk funny
B
Is he in the Coffee County jail or Franklin County on the gun charges? If he is in Coffee County than the is Mickey Layne. I was wondering if that might have any influence on DA Taylor, since it’s pressure from another judicial district?
Coffee at the moment.
B
@palerider, I love the beauty of Southern middle Tennessee, and it is, in general, a good place to raise your kids.
As I don’t ‘know’ Megan’s mom….I can only say from my ability to sense things about people. She is a good person, you know when cases like this appear, you also get a sense about the victim? I sense only good, loving and honest things about Megan.
We discovered a different side to this area some years ago. It goes way back in the ‘good ol boy’ honor code network. Its nasty and ugly.
You all see some of that spotlighted in the unraveling of Megan’s case.
For so long, someone keeps their mouth shut. Nothing is done.
I have a strong feeling Megan’s light will expose and end a lot of the bad in the area.
When you see the people who want good and justice rally together and support Kelly …its a great feeling.
She is a strong woman and I will make sure her voice is heard, she is Megan’s voice now.
Anyone reading this blog and has things they need to say privately, tell Blink. She’s gold.
Megan is the good people of our area. Her family deserves everything to be told to lock this case up and make this a good place to raise a family.
Thanks for answering my question so quickly. I just read that Coffee county jail has over 300 inmates at this time. As calculating as Donnie Jones seems to be maybe he will slip up in there & tell his whole story. I know “jailhouse” informants are not the best info, but who knows.
Good work Blink.
I still have some difficulty figuring out this case. Much of the crime seems like drunk rednecks gone wild, but we also have evidence that this was pre-planned. If it was pre-planned, then why leave here car where is was, why leave the body 10 feet from the road, as well as why start a fire to attract attention?
It is my impression, based on reports of how the body was “displayed”, that the perps were sending a message to someone (Megan and her family were most likely not the target). Possibly this was aimed at the DA, LE, or some witness in another case; e.g., “leave me alone or this happens to your daughter.”
It just seems to me that something important is missing from this story. (Of course when analyzing a case with limited info, I may have made the case more complicated than it really is.)
I do not think you are missing a thing. To the contrary, I think you are reading this exactly.
You know a lot of “accidents” intentionally intended to display as intentional murder and mutilation?
Because I am not familiar with a single verified case. “Accident” being a known defense in this case.
B
It was debunked Queenie.
B
I don’t know anyone involved; I’d never heard of them until this came out. Like I said before, my interest in this case was initially due to a former classmate having fallen victim to a very similar crime. I’m just piecing things together as they unfold. Anything I say is just an opinion, of which I have many loud ones.
My initial reaction was that she had to have known the person who did this to her. Someone willing to get close enough to have looked in her eyes. It seemed intensely personal. In the case of my friend, it was a boyfriend (with a prior violent record). I understand hers is not in question, which begs the question of how she knew DJ. Also, meth (or some other form of speed) springs to mind. Yes, I’m profiling from looking at pictures, but I had a jinkies moment about the aggression; I have no factual basis to back that up.
I’m not doubting that DJ has sociopathic tendencies. Not in the least. I just think he’s cockier than smart. IMHO, he’s an idiot. Granted, I’m fairly certain he had accomplices. Usually, people like he would target people he doesn’t find particularly intelligent (with more loyalty than sense) that he could manipulate to do his dirty/light work. This and how Megan would have known DJ is what bothers me about the Naomi involvement. TG, I get, but something isn’t gelling for me here with Naomi. There is likely a lot I don’t know about her or involvement that is being kept confidential that could shape my opinion on the matter, but from an outside perspective, I think perhaps she was another pawn he could manipulate and pin stuff on.
IMO, he had to have seen Megan more than once and with enough time to have been able to form an opinion of her character in order to have decided she was a target. Where did they meet to carpool? Did Megan ever meet the kids or stick around to play with them for a few minutes before leaving to or from? With as sweet as she’s been described, I see this as a distinct possibility if the occasion arose. I just don’t buy that he didn’t know her. I honestly can not get away from that feeling.
With the time she was laying in the field to the 911 phone call, I thought the caller must be involved and got scared by a passing car or the possibility that they’d been seen in the vicinity and tried to form an alibi. Those are the actions of fear, IMO. The two sets of tires throws me a bit. Was another person (or persons) there feeding him things to say?
I won’t say what I think about the gun.
I see DJ as a puppeteer. Granted, these other two that have been mentioned are culpable adults, but IMO the strings were being pulled by someone who knew the “power” it would take to move them.
You hit on some very good points, but I want to point out that Donnie is no puppetteer. That is strictly beneath him. Donnie is involved in other “crap” and that will come out, but this is his baliwick. He is an intense control freak, and there is no way that this would ever have his calling card, and be left to chance.
Although, admittedly, it did in the “dump” phase. It is incongruent to the known theory, and that tells me that the Mrs. needs to weigh in. She is the blank filler.
B
Anyone know who Donnie Jones was working for when he was “building hotels”?
D& S Builders
B
@ K Roberts
I live in the city where Coffee County jail is located. The jail has had overcrowding issues for a long, long time. The county commission is working at getting a new county jail, but at the moment they are way over the max. The jail is only supposed to hold around 196 inmates.
http://www.thunder1320.com/?p=14856
Thanks, Blink.
Yes, exactly correct.
B
The similarities here are scary as hell.
http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/m/mook_shelley.html
@ palerider
We’re all on the same page….no pun intended. This is for and about Megan.
Hugs, friendy!
It’s Naomi Marie right what was her maiden name?
@ATexasGrandfather – I was curious and looked at the picture. I agree she is not unattractive. I’m not sure what I expected.
I like reading your comments.
Although I don’t know what LE has on her or what she could be picked up for but she definately needs to be questioned. I have a feeling DJ will point the finger right at her.
Naomi is bold, we know she breaks the law because we know how her twins were conceived. She ran and she does not strike me as the kind of woman that ran because she’s afraid and or protecting her children.
Meg may have been pleasant to DJ during pick up and drop off, but I don’t see time for anything else. Meg had plans and knew what her priorities were. Naomi so far is the only connection between Meg and DJ.
It’s also a possibility that DJ just targeted her himself, but why the lure by Naomi. She had to know in advance…
I agree w/Blink I have been following Blink for a couple of years now and I have never seen a community so involved and they have accomplished so much.
Naomi is dangerous as well and at a minimum needs to be investigated for her part.
ok then, mark the top line private and only you and I will see it.
B
Blink – GeorgiaDad raises an interesting point and perspective on this case.
Did anyone currently or previously in Meg’s life have any association with DJ?
Only in passing to say hello/goodbye if they bumped into one another, they were not social.
I can tell you that Donnie did not represent himself as Donnie, who Meg would be aware of, during the “lure”.
B
@j2380 That’s where I read it. I have some friends that work there that say it’s worse than reported most of the time… I also live in CC. I hate the location for the new jail.
Dear Lord, it sounds like Naomi allegedly set up a faux ‘blind date’, which ultimately, was not.
“Hey Meg, I know this great guy who wants to meet you”.
I can’t release the specific detail in terms of phone numbers, etc, until an arrest (s) but it was definitely under the guise of a job to replace her part time waitressing gig and work in the “nursing” field for which she was seeking a degree.
I now have a very loved and dear family friend beginning the late stages of alzheimers and imo, it is one of the cruelest of diseases. Meg was under the impression the man had a mother with this and she would be caring for her. I mention this because Meg was living with her boyfriend Chris and in a committed relationship- no sign she was open to meeting new men.
B
Yes momma
Blink – you mentioned that Meg was living with her boyfriend Chris? We haven’t heard anything about him in all of this – how is he doing?
Blink – you mentioned that you heard DA Taylor is having a change of heart? Do you mean he’s coming around to where the rest of us have been for months?
Also, Blink, do you think that if the community of Darden, TN would have been as tenacious as this community, that there would have been an arrest in Holly Bobo’s case?
@Jack
As well as can be expected, the family is staying close with him
Yes, and I really need you to look for my email if your email address is valid please
Someone has been misinformed on the info about the children. The twins are at school today at the same school they have been going to. If they are being transfered then it has not been done yet.
It’s over. FCSD has done this case more than justice and JMT needs to get his a$$ in gear. It’s time. It’s past time… and Megan is waiting for her peace. Chris is ok… having a hard time. Please send light his way. As well as all of Meg’s siblings…this is unbearably hard even with him behind bars. And let’s not forget the innocent children of the classless nasty murdering parents, as children, they had no choice and I wish them peace. Thank you all for your love and support. Meg would be humbled…
Naomi obviously sounds as trashy as her husband…
@momagainstcrime
I am aware, that is correct, change in plans for he kids best interest.
Many, many apologies if someone covered this, I haven’t read all the way through… But… Isn’t Naomi a material witness? If she has indeed fled, can they not issue a warrant and bring her in as such?
Posted by Blink:
“You know a lot of “accidents” intentionally intended to display as intentional murder and mutilation?”
Because I am not familiar with a single verified case. “Accident” being a known defense in this case.
Posted by Blink:
I can tell you that Donnie did not represent himself as Donnie, who Meg would be aware of, during the “lure”.
So poor Megan was lured into the path of Donnie, who represented himself to her as somebody else because she was aware of “Donnie” being the boyfriend of Naomi, in name only?
Somebody is claiming their involvement to have been an accident?
Naomi seems just as responsible for Megans murder as anybody, she recommended the “job” and probably knew what was going to happen to her. Why on earth a good girl like Megan even gave these people the time of day is beyond me. Every single person who has done wrong must be held accountable.
Am I in my Time-Out chair, Blink?
Iz okay. I love my Time-Out chair.
LOL, never, I am.
Blink confession: I was reading posts and moderating while driving today and I nearly got into an accident.
SHame on me. I know better.
B
Thank you for clearing that up and acknowledging my post, B. Certainly how rumours can get started. I get what you mean by ‘lured’. I don’t want to be a participant in the rumour mill. Thank you for sparing me and, especially, focusing on Megan’s sweet character.
I, too, have a friend who’s father suffers from dementia. I understand the heartbreak associated with these kinds of diseases.
Looking at the Namus file on the Shelly Lynn (Jones, maiden name) Mook case link I posted yesterday (which is still awaiting moderation), I see the detective to contact is Detective Sgt. Scott Jones, with the Bedford County Sheriff’s Department.
There sure are a lot of Jones’ in that area. Sounds like the small towns around here, one has to be careful about what one may say about someone because everyone is related by marriage or a long lost cousin to everyone else. Or it seems so anyway. Just wondering if any of the locals know if there’s any connection between these families?
Police have said Mook’s ex-husband is a POI, but haven’t been able to make any connection to her disappearance. Maybe they’re looking at the wrong guy. Mooks family is listed as being from Estill Springs & Shelbyville. So weird for such small towns to have this kind of thing happening so frequently.
Megan’s death was so violent, I just get a feeling it wasn’t the first murder in this perp’s history.
Ooops, meant to post the namus link for ya’ll:
https://www.findthemissing.org/cases/10714/0/
Hi Blink. The facebook link you provided for Mrs. Jones appears to be of a young, aspiring actress in the UK. Wrong Mrs. Jones, then?
https://twitter.com/naomimariejones
The link to the Facebook page for Naomi is incorrect — she appears to be a 21-year-old English actress:
https://twitter.com/naomimariejones
(same background photo)