Ohio Teen Accused of Murdering Boyfriend’s Mother, Flees to Mexico, Charged as Adult
Nov 28, 2023, 02:00 AM
Kaitlyn Coones, a 17-year-old from Canton, Ohio, is facing charges for the murder of her boyfriend's mother, 53-year-old Nicole Jones. Coones, who disappeared from her foster home on April 11, is accused of orchestrating the murder after giving her boyfriend, Jonathan Jones, an ultimatum.
On Friday, a judge ruled that Coones will be tried as an adult on charges of aggravated murder, tampering with evidence, and abuse of a corpse. The Lucas County Prosecutor's Office confirmed that Coones has been "bound over to the grand jury for further proceedings."
Coones reportedly moved in with Jonathan Jones, who had a prior
conviction in March related to their relationship when she was 15. Allegedly,
Coones instructed Jonathan to kill his mother, believing that she disapproved
of their relationship and was interfering.
“Kaitlyn had told Jonathan that they needed to do something about
his mother because she was preventing 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 killing her,” Sylvania Township Police Department Detective Jake
Albright said.
When Jonathan failed to carry out the act, prosecutors claim that
Coones took matters into her own hands. Lucas County Prosecutor Andy Lastra
alleges that she bludgeoned and strangled Nicole Jones in the kitchen using a
rock.
“When Nicole Jones was standing in front of the refrigerator in
the kitchen, unaware of Kaitlyn’s presence, she bludgeoned Nicole Jones a
number of times and strangled her,” Lastra said.
Jonathan, who was allegedly present in the living room during the
incident, reportedly assisted Coones in disposing of his mother's body. The two
then fled to Mexico, according to the U.S. Marshal Service.
During the journey, Coones allegedly confessed to the murder.
Patty Wardrop, an assistant prosecuting attorney, revealed that Coones
contacted a case worker, admitting to "something terrible" she had
done. Authorities promptly investigated Nicole's home, finding evidence
consistent with Coones's account of the crime.
On May 8, the U.S. Marshals Service Missing Child Unit apprehended
Jonathan in Mexico. His failure to disarm a GPS tracking device, a condition of
his previous conviction, reportedly aided authorities in locating him. Coones
was found with him.
Jonathan, who had pleaded guilty in March to endangering children and attempting to
commit pandering obscenity involving a minor, now faces additional charges in
connection with his mother's murder.
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On Friday, a judge ruled that Coones will be tried as an adult on charges of aggravated murder, tampering with evidence, and abuse of a corpse. The Lucas County Prosecutor's Office confirmed that Coones has been "bound over to the grand jury for further proceedings."
Coones reportedly moved in with Jonathan Jones, who had a prior
conviction in March related to their relationship when she was 15. Allegedly,
Coones instructed Jonathan to kill his mother, believing that she disapproved
of their relationship and was interfering.
“Kaitlyn had told Jonathan that they needed to do something about
his mother because she was preventing 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 killing her,” Sylvania Township Police Department Detective Jake
Albright said.
When Jonathan failed to carry out the act, prosecutors claim that
Coones took matters into her own hands. Lucas County Prosecutor Andy Lastra
alleges that she bludgeoned and strangled Nicole Jones in the kitchen using a
rock.
“When Nicole Jones was standing in front of the refrigerator in
the kitchen, unaware of Kaitlyn’s presence, she bludgeoned Nicole Jones a
number of times and strangled her,” Lastra said.
Jonathan, who was allegedly present in the living room during the
incident, reportedly assisted Coones in disposing of his mother's body. The two
then fled to Mexico, according to the U.S. Marshal Service.
During the journey, Coones allegedly confessed to the murder.
Patty Wardrop, an assistant prosecuting attorney, revealed that Coones
contacted a case worker, admitting to "something terrible" she had
done. Authorities promptly investigated Nicole's home, finding evidence
consistent with Coones's account of the crime.
On May 8, the U.S. Marshals Service Missing Child Unit apprehended
Jonathan in Mexico. His failure to disarm a GPS tracking device, a condition of
his previous conviction, reportedly aided authorities in locating him. Coones
was found with him.
Jonathan, who had pleaded guilty in March to endangering children and attempting to
commit pandering obscenity involving a minor, now faces additional charges in
connection with his mother's murder.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com