Investigation Discoverys Murder Comes to Town: Answering the Call chronicles the horrifying murder of Megan Sharpton and how an intense police investigation drew the case to an end. He could have taken her body much deeper in the woods, but rather chose to leave it in a clearing, off the side of the road, where it would be easily discovered. pic.twitter.com/WeN8vEqm, Tanya Reeves (@reeves_tanya) September 28, 2012, Mothers Fight To Put Killer Behind Bars Ends In Her Own Tragic Death. Here are a few things to look over before the show starts. Kelly Sharpton was born in Milan to Maurice and Margaret Stepp Hale. But while waiting to interview Chris, Bedford County personnel called detectives with a lead: theyd found Megan Sharptons vehicle parked on a country road, about 15 to 20 miles from the crime scene where her body was found in Franklin County. Moreover, authorities also managed to recover DNA evidence from the victims body and sent it in for testing, hoping it would lead them to the killer. You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or by planting a memorial tree in the memory of Erika Megan Sharpton, 2023 Tullahoma Funeral Home. She was very loved by her family, her friends, and the whole community. I will always hate your choice, but I will always love you and your fierce bravery. People who knew Megan at the steakhouse where she worked were devastated by the news. On Feb. 4, 2013, Donnie Jones was sentenced to life without parole. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. He pleaded guilty in February 2013. On July 1st, Megan made plans to meet with her family for dinner,. She'd been sexually assaulted and set on fire. In 2013, Kelly Sharpton, Megans mother, took her own life. Investigators brought their attentions back to the job offer that Megan told friends and family about on the evening of her murder. She has finally found the peace that was so allusive [sp] during the last sixteen months. We will miss her dearly and feel for her family. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. There are other aspects of her case that are highly unusual, as well. Via school records, police found a woman named Naomi Jones. All Death, Burial, Cemetery & Obituaries results for Megan Sharpton. Maybe Kelly Sharpton couldn't bear the pain any longer. 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. On Friday, Kelly Elizabeth Hale Sharpton took her own life in a Chattanooga hotel. But where did Megan go after leaving her boyfriends? Donnie Jones initially denied any involvement in the case. 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The man in the video was identified to be drug dealer Timothy Gifford whom the police immediately brought in for questioning. 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. Your basement may flood if the sump pump goes out, and you may need to rel. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. Tune into Murder Comes To Town this Friday, March 31, at 10/9 p.m. Central on Investigation Discovery. Upgrade to Premium Service for AD-FREE browsing. She mattered to us all. Did he walk, possibly hitchhike, or did he have access to another vehicle? Kelly Hale Sharpton was 47 years old. A celebration of her life will follow at a later date. Hours later, Megans body was discovered burning on the side of the road. Megan Sharpton Death Investigation Latest | WHNT.com Huntsville News & Weather from WHNT Television News19 HD. "It is apparent that she tried so hard to carry on after Megan's passing, but the pain was relentless. However, her mother was always concerned for her because she was naive and too trusting. Megan was suppose to drop by her family's house that day (a Sunday, July 1st), since her sister was in town. In fact, her family had no idea what had happened to her that night. Fly free our angel mom.". 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. She mattered to us all. She was very loved by her family, her friends, and the whole community. A Tennessee man charged with killing a Tullahoma nursing student has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to life in prison without parole. Messages run for up to one year and you Online condolences may be left for the family at www.tullahomafuneralhome.com. Jeffrey's sister reported the couple missing on August 7 . Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. All of us who followed Megan's story will continue to carry Kelly's message to young women everywhere. Nieces Chloe' Taylor, Baylee Sharpton, and Lizzy Sharpton. Currently, Donnie Jones Jr. is serving time at the Northeast Correctional Complex in Johnson County, Tennessee. But soon after making plans, Megan called to explain that a last-minute job interview had come up and that she'd meet with them whenever she was able to. In an interview with CNN, Kelly Hale Sharpton discussed her daughters love for people. 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. Investigators suspected foul play soon after first responders extinguished the fire, revealing an unidentified woman with stars tattooed behind her ears, wearing the burnt remnants of a nursing school shirt. She was 47. Its interesting that he brutally killed Megan, but when it came to his own life, he wanted to spare it. According to the authorities, killer Donnie Frank Jones Jr., set Megans body on fire just 10 minutes before the motorist came upon the scene. But Chris putthem on a new investigatory path when he offered a new lead: While detectives couldnt locate Megans phone, the call about the job interview came through on an older phone of Megans, which Chris had in his possession. Is the purse spot the place where the murder took place? 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. This is a distinct possibility! Kelly Sharpton was the mother of Megan Sharpton, whose burned body was found July 2, 2012, at Awalt Road in Franklin County. In this Apr 19, 2013, photo, Kelly Sharpton wears a bracelet that reads, "Shine on my starry girl, " in remembrance of her daughter Megan Sharpton. The burning body of the 24-year-old nursing student was found July 2, 2012 on the side of Awalt Road by a motorist who stopped to check a possible grass fire. ", "As a fellow grieving mother, I understand the pain she was in. Her family, alongside Rev. Visitation with the family will be held Tuesday, November 12, 2013 from 4:00PM till 7:00 PM at Tullahoma Funeral Home. 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. Investigators recognized the name right away. She gave everybody the same benefit of the doubt. Most importantly, he was the husband of Naomi Jones, the former classmate of Megans. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. She would go to the back streets of Ann Arbor and visit with these people and she was probably 15 years old, and I was telling her, you can`t just wander around the back streets, but she said but mommy, he needs a friend, he needs somebody to talk to. Shine on our starry girl. Prosecutors eyed the death penalty. Her death was a mystery. She was 47. or call 931-455-4657 or email kboswell@tullahomanews.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. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. The circumstances of Erika Megan Sharptons death (which has been ruled a homicide) are quite unusual. Ms. Sharpton was born in Milan, TN to Maurice and Margaret Stepp Hale. Tennessee detectives finally arrested Donnie and indicted him for murder. Her car was found burned in a remote field. Aunts Anne Hale, Laurie Weeks, and Lisa Sharpton. 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. Granlund and Niederreiter both score 2, Preds top Sharks 6-2,Mikael Granlund and Nino Niederreiter each scored twice, and the Nashville Predators beat. The case seemed to hit a wall, but then the autopsy report came back and revealed a shocking detail: it was a gunshot wound to the face that killed Megan. Kyle, 27, lived there with his girlfriend, Jennifer Valiante, 31. Tullahoma Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Erika Megan Sharpton. James Dellinger. She was a compassionate, caring soul, and planned a career in nursing. 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. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. The young girl also wanted to pursue a nursing career and was actively looking for job offers as her college was coming to an end. A few storms may be severe. Thats all I f--king do.. Any of these sketches will work. With an acceptance of this scenario, the purse location is event one, the burning of the body, 5 miles away, is event 2, and the red Mustang left on the bridge, 16 miles away, is event 3. After his conviction in Oregon, Brady was extradited to California, where he was put on trial for Officer Ganz's death. Experts fall on both sides of the fence in this matter. SSW winds shifting to NW at 10 to 15 mph. The Lifecycle of a Raindrop: Why it Matters to You. Megan was that kind of kid, Kelly Sharpton said at the time. I don`t know.. Ms. Sharpton was born in Milan, TN to Maurice and Margaret Stepp Hale. But soon after making plans, Megan called to explain that a last-minute job interview had come up and that shed meet with them whenever she was able to. Many cousins, great aunts, and great uncles. And you know, actually, just had that compassion for people, that trust, that love for humans. After his arrest, Donnie Jones Jr. was eager to cut a deal with authorities wherein he confessed to the murder in exchange for prosecutors leaving out the death penalty. Sharpton's 1995 Ford Mustang was found the same day on Three Forks Bridge Road in Bedford County. Parents Kelly Hale Sharpton and Don Cornelius, Jr. Grandparents Maurice and Margaret Hale. Enter Kelly Sharpton was the mother of Megan Sharpton, whose burned body was found July 2, 2012, at Awalt Road in Franklin County. But Megan Sharpton never made it. Did Megan know her killer? Death notices for Feb. 23. Im not gonna get caught up in what happens to him. "I wake up in the morningand I see my dead daughter's . The autopsy further confirmed the rape but determined that Megan had died after being shot in the face. Whoever killed her, spread the evidence out over three locations. Death Notice. I aint ever, I had no contact with her, he told authorities. So she, you know, maybe was a little too empathetic with people. Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller said that Donnie Jones has been arrested in connection with the case. Donnie Jones pleads 'not guilty' on murder charges in the death of Megan Sharpton. 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. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.tullahomafuneralhome.com. All rights reserved. Its too bad that the motorist didnt arrive on the scene in time to save Megans life. Create a password that only you will remember. Food and medicine in your refrigerator and freezer can go bad. In retaliation, Donnie allegedly used intimidation to detract attention away from him. "Justice is a word for this world. your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Jones had also been accused of rape in the past. 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. In 2012, Megan Sharpton was studying nursing and just months away from collecting her diploma. WHNT-19 reported that around 1:00 a.m. on July 1, 2012, a motorist saw a brightly lit fire in the field. ", "I live in South Africa and got to know Kelly on a fellow-grieving mothers' page. Megan Sharpton, 24, was a resident of Tullahoma, Tennessee, and was a couple of months away from earning her college degree. I cant thank Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller and Investigator Todd Hindman enough. 19K 918K views 10 months ago In 2012, Megan Sharpton was studying nursing and just months away from collecting her diploma. Megan was a goal-oriented woman whod worked her way through school and was just two months shy of graduating college. Sharpton's 1995 Ford Mustang was found on Three Forks Bridge Road in Bedford County. 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. Allegedly used intimidation to detract attention away from collecting her diploma the doubt Stepp... Was so allusive [ sp ] during the last sixteen months Forks Bridge Road in Bedford County or 931-455-4657. Side of the fence in this matter Todd Hindman enough celebration of her murder at the Northeast Correctional in... D been sexually assaulted and set on fire the husband of Naomi Jones, the former classmate of Megans nursing... Was very loved by her family had no contact with her family, her friends, and the whole.! Milan, TN to Maurice and Margaret Stepp Hale the peace that so! 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