Theyve been very supportive. We tried as much as we could to be respectful' These stars were already taken when they found a new love! Donnie Jones initially denied any involvement in the case. Megan Sharpton According to her mother and sister, Megan was due to have dinner with her family on the evening before her body was found. John Kays identifies timeless remnants from our past that will endure, or be admired by future generations. Though Chris initially described a good relationship with Megan, his story soon started to unravel, and he admitted that their relationship became strained near the end. In an interview with The News last fall, prior to Jones arrest and conviction, Kelly Sharpton said she understood the publics frustration with the amount of time it took law enforcement authorities to arrest Jones, but said she was confident the case was being handled properly. They dont call it the case, they call her Megan, It may sound strange, but justice isnt mine to deliver, she said. We won't share it with anyone else. But in August 2015, those plans came to a shocking and abrupt halt. Greatly beloved by her family, she leaves behind, in addition to her parents: aunt Tamela Laxton, aunt Cathy Sanford (Michael), aunt Linda Brown (Dennis), cousin Bianca Brown . Nieces Chloe' Taylor, Baylee Sharpton, and Lizzy Sharpton. Megan Sharpton, 24, was a resident of Tullahoma, Tennessee, and was a couple of months away from earning her college degree. 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. pic.twitter.com/OAt6Wxm7, The Tullahoma News (@TullahomaNews) November 16, 2012. We are trying to help Sara and her family with medical and living expenses. She is survived by her parents, Maurice and Margaret Hale of Tullahoma; her children, Carrie (Michael) Taylor, of Huntsville, and Alex and Will Sharpton, of Tullahoma; her fianc, Don Cornelius, of Tullahoma; a sister, Anne S. Hale and her companion Laurie Weeks, of Albuquerque, N.M.; a brother, David G. (Kelsey Vaughn) Hale, of Seattle; her grandchildren, Chlo Taylor, Sophia Shelley and Gavin and Garrett Taylor; and aunts Brenda (Orville) Glenn, Jane Sherborne, Melissa Birdsong and Susan Harrell. Ms. Sharpton was born in Milan, TN to Maurice and Margaret Stepp Hale. High 74F. Sure did.. You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or plant a tree in memory of Erika Megan Sharpton. Detective Hindman circulated the mans photo around the sheriffs department and found out, within minutes, that the man on the video was a local drug dealer named Timothy Gifford. The amazing Erika Megan Sharpton was torn from us July 2, 2012, age 24. She was 47. The female was in her 20sand undressed from the waist down; the fire seemed concentrated to her pelvic region. We will miss her dearly and feel for her family. Thats my call, and another call is that she knew her killer, if only vaguely. Naomi claimed not to know about the job offer. Staff writer Tim Omarzu contributed to this story. In the months since her daughter Megan, 24, was raped and killed, her body set afire alongside Awalt Road in Franklin County, Tenn., the grief-stricken mother had struggled to cope. I cant thank Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller and Investigator Todd Hindman enough. On Sept. 30, 2006, at . A celebration of her life will follow at a later date. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Investigators recognized the name right away. 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. As our thanks for being a loyal subscriber, you have been upgraded to our premium service AT NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE! who wins student body president riverdale. According to the Times Free Press, the pain of her daughters death was too intense. 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. On Friday, Kelly Elizabeth Hale Sharpton took her own life in a Chattanooga hotel. Chance of rain 100%. She was active in grief groups that put her in contact with grieving mothers like herself all over the world. She mattered to us all. 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. 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. In the early hours of Saturday morning, unspeakable tragedy struck Moore County as MCHS Senior Isaiah Petty was killed as the passenger in a single car crash on the highway just down from the high school. All rights reserved. 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. Parents Kelly Hale Sharpton and Don Cornelius, Jr. Grandparents Maurice and Margaret Hale. Don't be angry. Kelly Sharpton became her daughter's champion for justice and held up her slaying as an example of violent crime that costs young women their lives. Al Sharpton has died. Initially, the police had multiple leads in the investigation, and they even looked at Megans boyfriend as a suspect. Whoever killed her, spread the evidence out over three locations. Her obituary in the Tullahoma News described Sharpton as the world's "brightest star" and "a compassionate, caring soul." . At times during interviews with the Times Free Press, Kelly Sharpton was strong, other times wracked with pain. Did Megan know her killer? Unable to disprove this, authorities had no choice but to let Donnie walk. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. Megan Shannon's passing on Tuesday, February 1, 2022 has been publicly announced by Graham-Dunn Funeral Home - Carrollton in Carrollton, KY.Legacy invites you to offer condolences and share memories o Don't judge Kelly. Of course, if he used lighter fluid, this would make the purchase less conspicuous. Tennessee detectives finally arrested Donnie and indicted him for murder. Parents Kelly Hale Sharpton and Don Cornelius, Jr. Grandparents Maurice and Margaret Hale. Read More: How Did Noreen Kumeta Rudd Die? On Feb. 4, 2013, Donnie Jones was sentenced to life without parole. 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. On July 2, 2012, at around 1:30 am, a motorist discovered a fire beside Awalt Road in Franklin County and informed the authorities. Tullahoma - The world has lost it's brightest star. 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. Al Sharpton, has pleaded guilty to multiple federal charges. People who knew Megan at the steakhouse where she worked were devastated by the news. 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. It's what society needs to do to close this and walk away.". Sharpton, of Tullahoma, was pronounced dead at Erlanger hospital of an apparent suicide, though. Investigation Discovery has picked up the story and will be dramatizing it on their crime documentary Murder Comes To Town. Nieces Chloe' Taylor, Baylee Sharpton, and Lizzy Sharpton. Known for her starry tattoos and her favorite pink purse, Megan Sharpton was a beautiful person, a caring young lady who had a big heart for people who were downtrodden in life. He reported it immediately believing that it was a grass fire. Shine on our starry girl. Hello! Visitation will be Friday, July 6, 2012 from 5-8 pm. Megan Sharpton was supposed to go to her mothers home to see her sister who was visiting from out of town. A Tennessee man charged with killing a Tullahoma nursing student has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to life in prison without parole. Megan Camp and Katrina Wachs are organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Sara Sharpton. Tullahoma Funeral Home's online guest book was flooded with condolences from friends, co-workers and other grieving mothers who knew now that another mother, Kelly's, was grieving, too. - Click to learn more.. 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. Some commented on the "why" behind Kelly's death. Kelly Sharpton of Tullahoma, the mother of murder victim Megan Sharpton, meets with reporters outside the Coffee County Justice Center in Manchester in October 2012. Death notices for Feb. 23. Where is Donnie Rudd Now? You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or plant a tree in memory of Erika Megan Sharpton. All Rights Reserved. Visitation will be Friday, July 6, 2012 from 5-8 pm. Its interesting that he brutally killed Megan, but when it came to his own life, he wanted to spare it. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in the book. She was very loved by her family, her friends, and the whole community. Several puzzling elements of the crime are presented to the detectives working on Ms. Sharptons case. Timothy did not even need much coercing and immediately told officers that he purchased the burner cell for his friend, Donnie Jones (Naomi Jones husband). Police discovered that the phone used to lure Megan with a job interview was an unregistered burner phone. Kelly, you, by far, are at the top of that list. Aunts Anne Hale, Laurie Weeks, and Lisa Sharpton. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. His spokeswoman says Ada Sharpton passed away early Thursday morning in Dothan, Ala., following a long battle with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. On July 1st, Megan made plans to meet with her family for dinner,. Find Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok profiles, images and more on IDCrawl - free people search website. your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Authorities pulled 11 or 12 surveillance videos of burner phone sales around the time of the murder, and one of them caught their eye, a man with an off demeanor who clearly already had a phone and was buying a burner phone. Sharpton's 1995 Ford Mustang was found on Three Forks Bridge Road in Bedford County. There are other aspects of her case that are highly unusual, as well. Governors preliminary budget includes purchase of Coffee County megasite, PublicSq., a Leading Values-Aligned Marketplace, to Go Public via Combination with Colombier Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: CLBR), Shocking development at Hands-On Science Center, Local businesses awarded for service to community, Alzheimers Tennessee daytime support group meetings, Tullahoma Sangha at Unitarian Universalist Church of Tullahoma, Tullahoma Winter Shelter locations and hours, 10963 Old Tullahoma Rd, Tullahoma, TN 37388, 4772 Old Manchester Hwy, Tullahoma, TN 37388. Tullahoma wrestlers brought home hardware this past weekend as four Wildcat grapplers medaled in the state championships. Ms. Sharpton was a Graphic Designer at A.E.D.C. 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. It was like something youd see off a movie, George Dyer, Franklin County Sheriffs Office detective, toldAn Unexpected Killer, anOxygen series. Why was she set on fire only from her navel down to her feet? She was later identified as 24-year-old Erika Megan Sharpton of Coffee County. 25 days since this terrible homicide, and no suspects are yet emerging. Where did the perpetrator get the gasoline (or whatever accelerant was used?) A time of death placed the murder occurring before midnight. Kenneth Sharpton Glasgow, a Dothan minister and half-brother of the Rev. She worked as a graphic designer at AEDC. Donnie initially denied contacting Megan and even denied getting a burner cell. I will always hate your choice, but I will always love you and your fierce bravery. After his conviction in Oregon, Brady was extradited to California, where he was put on trial for Officer Ganz's death. However, Donnie was ultimately convicted of first-degree murder. 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. 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. However, Chris proved to have a solid alibi during the time of the murder. Crump represented the Floyd family and won a $27 million wrongful-death settlement with the city. 39-year-old Donnie Frank Jones Jr., the man accused in the 2012 rape and slaying of 24-year-old Tullahoma, Tenn., nursing student Megan Sharpton will spend the rest of his life behind bars. Fly free our angel mom.". He pleaded guilty in February 2013. "I wake up in the morning and I see my dead daughter's face," she said in the first weeks after Megan's July 2012 murder. Strode Funeral Home and Cremation. It seemed to be a dead-end, as Naomi Jones said she wasnt close with Megan. Visitation with the family will be held Tuesday, November 12, 2013 from 4:00PM till 7:00 PM at Tullahoma Funeral Home. Born in St. Paul on Oct. 27, 2000, and raised in Minneapolis from the time he was 7, Wright was "taken from his family and friends too soon and leaves a hole in their heart that will never be. We know she was nude in that area as well. www.tullahomafuneralhome.com. 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. Uncles David (Kelsey) Hale and Alex Sharpton. Megan Sharpton Death Investigation Latest | WHNT.com Huntsville News & Weather from WHNT Television News19 HD. Edit Search New Search Filters (1) To get better results, add more information such as Birth Info, Death Info and Locationeven a guess will help. Jim was born on March 8, 1930 in Atlanta, GA. Aunts Anne Hale, Laurie Weeks, and Lisa Sharpton. Visitation with the family will be held Tuesday, November 12, 2013 from 4:00PM till 7:00 PM at Tullahoma Funeral Home. And on Friday, the mother took her own life in a Chattanooga hotel.Kelly was a graphic designer at Arnold Air Force Base.Her daughter's accused killer, Donnie Jones Jr., faces first-degree murder, kidnapping and rape charges, and pleaded guilty. Her sister, Carrie Taylor, immediately voiced her suspicions to police, pointing the finger at Megans boyfriend of three years, Chris. Thats all I f--king do.. The Lifecycle of a Raindrop: Why it Matters to You. Megan mentioned she would try to hook up with a possible patient (Megan was a nursing student), an elderly lady, I believe. Granlund and Niederreiter both score 2, Preds top Sharks 6-2,Mikael Granlund and Nino Niederreiter each scored twice, and the Nashville Predators beat. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Shelley Mooks body was never found. He was the son of the late . You have permission to edit this article. Authorities were also successful in recovering Megans car, which was found abandoned a few miles away from where her body was found. I believe this theory! Jones had also been accused of rape in the past. She was very loved by her family, her friends, and the whole community. Ms. Sharpton was a Graphic Designer at A.E.D.C. Via school records, police found a woman named Naomi Jones. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. Your basement may flood if the sump pump goes out, and you may need to rel. She was born in Altoona, a daughter of Matthew and Nancy Frantz. February 23, 2023, 5:15 AM. ", "I live in South Africa and got to know Kelly on a fellow-grieving mothers' page. And you know, actually, just had that compassion for people, that trust, that love for humans. All of us who followed Megan's story will continue to carry Kelly's message to young women everywhere. Create a password that only you will remember. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.tullahomafuneralhome.com. 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. Megan and Her Best Friend Loved Watching True Crime Shows, An Exclusive First Look into the Case of Megan Sharpton, Franklin County Sheriff Advised Detective Todd Hindman to "Take Care of Your Victim's Family", Megan Sharptons last few minutes of life was pure hell and panic and fear.. 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. 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. In 2013, Kelly Sharpton, Megans mother, took her own life. In a tragic story, the mother of a nursing student whose life was brutally ended last year has been found dead.24-year-old Megan Sharpton was raped and killed, her body found set on fire along a road in Franklin County last year.In the months since, 47-year-old Kelly Sharpton of Tullahoma struggled with the loss of her daughter. 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. Sharpton went deep into history to reference a queen with African roots that was hidden by the British monarchy at the time but he was. 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. 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