ABOUT THE ACCUSED
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. He was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison without any possibility of parole. 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.”We’re waiting for him to get the expert mental evaluation done,” Taylor said.
Maybe Kelly Sharpton couldn’t bear the pain any longer.
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.
At times during interviews with the Times Free Press, Kelly Sharpton was strong, other times wracked with pain.
“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.