By the condition of the body, it seemed that the victim had fought for her life. 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. Enter Don't be angry. There was DNA recovered, whichwas sent to the crime lab for testing, offering investigators a glimmer of hope. Person of interest in the Megan sharpton case, may he finally get his. 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John Kays identifies timeless remnants from our past that will endure, or be admired by future generations. pic.twitter.com/OAt6Wxm7, The Tullahoma News (@TullahomaNews) November 16, 2012. Police gathered that Megan had been sexually assaulted or raped and had suffered blunt force trauma as her skull had visible dents. 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. Detectives circled back to the boyfriend, Chris. Shelley Mooks body was never found. or call 931-455-4657 or email kboswell@tullahomanews.com. There was a lot of speculation in the town between Coffee and Franklin Counties. Megan Sharpton Obituary - Death, Cause Of Death, Funeral: We learned about the passing of Megan Sharpton.click to read and leave tributes.. The Rev Al Sharpton delivered a eulogy on Monday for Valentina Orellana-Peralta, the 14-year-old girl killed by a Los Angeles police officer, denouncing LAPD's longstanding abuses, as her family. Sara was initially admitted into the hospital on Aug 17th for an emergency hernia repair. Its too bad that the motorist didnt arrive on the scene in time to save Megans life. ", "I live in South Africa and got to know Kelly on a fellow-grieving mothers' page. Ahntastic Adventures in Silicon Valley You'll enjoy AD-FREE access to our site as long as you are a paid subscriber. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.tullahomafuneralhome.com. Copyright (c) 2004-2021 - NewsBlaze Pty. Gifford was brought into the station for questioning but seemed eager to defend himself: He said he purchased the burner phone for a man named Donnie Jones. He was the son of the late . The female was in her 20sand undressed from the waist down; the fire seemed concentrated to her pelvic region. Ms. Sharpton was a Graphic Designer at A.E.D.C. On July 1st, Megan made plans to meet with her family for dinner,. You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or plant a tree in memory of Erika Megan Sharpton. Only $2.00 additional per month! - Click to learn more.. Donnie Jones initially denied any involvement in the case. 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. Inside were the burnt scraps of a purple scarf with stars printed on it, later determined to be a gift to Megan from her sister, Carrie. But Megan Sharpton never made it. Megan Sharpton was supposed to go to her mothers home to see her sister who was visiting from out of town. 26 Feb Feb She committed suicide inside of a motel room in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in November 2013. While following the phone calls trail, the police met up with Naomi Jones, who said she and Megan were just acquaintances. Its almost like they knew Megan. In fact, her family had no idea what had happened to her that night. Did he walk, possibly hitchhike, or did he have access to another vehicle? Visitation with the family will be held Tuesday, November 12, 2013 from 4:00PM till 7:00 PM at Tullahoma Funeral Home. The investigation into Jones and the phone revealed that he was on the prowl, trying to lure other potential victims before Megan Sharpton. Parents Kelly Hale Sharpton and Don Cornelius, Jr. Grandparents Maurice and Margaret Hale. (No Ratings Yet) Ms. Sharpton was born in Milan, TN to Maurice and Margaret Stepp Hale. Megan passed away on May 26, 2022. Megan was born on October 24, 1987 in Tullahoma, TN and died there July 2, 2012. It led us to believe thered been a sexual assault, Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller told producers. 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. 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. Her pink purse was left in one spot, her red Mustang in another, and her burning body in yet a third location. Don't judge Kelly. But she seemed to know that putting her daughter's killer in jail wouldn't be enough. But then the results of the DNA collected from Megans body came back to detectives: Itwas a match to Donnie Jones. On a Saturday in late March, Kelly Sharpton was joined by friends and family members at the site where Megans body was discovered to dedicate a memorial in her daughters honor. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Siblings Caroline (Michael) Taylor, Alex Sharpton, Will Sharpton, Cameron (Lindsay) Sharpton, and Leah Sharpton. You have permission to edit this article. There are other aspects of her case that are highly unusual, as well. The victim was identified as24-year-old Megan Sharpton of Tullahoma, Tennessee. Megan was a goal-oriented woman whod worked her way through school and was just two months shy of graduating college. Police discovered that the phone used to lure Megan with a job interview was an unregistered burner phone. Staff writer Tim Omarzu contributed to this story. Megan mentioned she would try to hook up with a possible patient (Megan was a nursing student), an elderly lady, I believe. Donnies family owned several farms in that area, said Sheriff Fuller in regards to where they found Megans car. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. Authorities quickly put a BOLO alert out for Megans car, as they had yet to account for it. Donnie initially denied contacting Megan and even denied getting a burner cell. He. She mattered to us all. To send flowers The circumstances of Erika Megan Sharptons death (which has been ruled a homicide) are quite unusual. 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. We know she met with her boyfriend after speaking with her mother, but he went to work, so he has a good alibi and has been cleared by the Franklin County Sheriffs Department. Megan was that kind of kid, Kelly Sharpton said at the time. We tried as much as we could to be respectful' These stars were already taken when they found a new love! 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. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. After searching the property, police found a burn barrel. Visitation will be Friday, July 6, 2012 from 5-8 pm. "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. 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. He was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison. [Featured Image by Zack Frank/Shutterstock]. But where did Megan go after leaving her boyfriends? to the family or plant a tree Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Jones was not charged with the murder of Megan Sharpton, however, only felon in possession of firearms. Naomi claimed not to know about the job offer. Should the day after the Super Bowl replace President's Day as an official federal holiday? According to Chris, Megan told him that shed accepted a job offer afriend from nursing school had recommended her for. Jeffrey's sister reported the couple missing on August 7 . Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. On Nov. 5, 2012, the state charged Donnie Jones with first-degree murder, rape, and two counts of aggravated kidnapping. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 1st, 2023 with burial following in Fairlawn Cemetery. The location of Erika Megan Sharpton's body lies about two hours from Darden -- where Holly Bobo vanished in April of 2011. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. But in August 2015, those plans came to a shocking and abrupt halt. I believe this theory! After this, Megan, suddenly fell silentMany thanks to 369 Film Studios Leicester, where some of the stock footage shown in this video was filmed.https://linktr.ee/trulycriminal1Sources https://controlc.com/37109004Patreon https://patreon.com/trulycriminal1Merchandise https://trulycriminal.shopBuy Me A Coffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/trulycriminalThank you to Jupiter Productions for making all of our original music https://open.spotify.com/artist/2rLqqXDTFrqOC1zbA2KMJ1 https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/jupiter-productions/1566649238 Why not take the car to a less obvious place to get rid of it? All rights reserved. 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. 'We're losing control of our own children,'" he continued. They also learned that Donnie Jones was behind the phone call to Megan about a job interview. Tullahoma Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Erika Megan Sharpton. Ms. Sharpton was born in Milan, TN to Maurice and Margaret Stepp Hale. However, her mother was always concerned for her because she was naive and too trusting. "I wake up in the morningand I see my dead daughter's face," she said in the first weeks after Megan's July 2012 murder. 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. Eugene Brennan, 93, of Stillwater, died January 25, 2023. People took to blogs and social media to vent their frustrations and speculations about who had done it. 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. Nieces Chloe' Taylor, Baylee Sharpton, and Lizzy Sharpton. Sharpton's 1995 Ford Mustang was found the same day on Three Forks Bridge Road in Bedford County. The Great Sets Season 3 Premiere: Elle Fannning & Nicholas Hoult Return in First Look (PHOTO), Frasier: Bebe Neuwirth to Reprise Role as Lilith in Paramount+ Revival, Ed Sheeran announces only UK shows of 2023, 'I'd never wish that on anyone' The celebrities who regret their child star past, Scott Mitchell: I used to talk to Dame Barbara's illness before she died, Mrs. Many cousins, great aunts, and great uncles. Megan was born on October 24, 1987 in Tullahoma, TN and died there July 2, 2012. Megan's car, a red 1995 Ford MUstang, was found near Highway 64 on Three Forks Bridge Road. After going to the press to talk about her daughters memory and fighting to have Donnie Jones arrested for the murder, Kelly Hale Sharpton died. The GPS evidence also allowed them to place Donnie at the location where they suspected he had raped Megan and also at the place where the victims body was found. You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or plant a tree in memory of Erika Megan Sharpton. ", "As a fellow grieving mother, I understand the pain she was in. Kelly, you, by far, are at the top of that list. Read more about the life story of Erika and share your memory. 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. According to the boyfriend, the recommendation for the new job came from a former nursing school classmate of Megans named Naomi. In 2013, Kelly Sharpton, Megans mother, took her own life. According to WZTV FOX 17, police learned that Donnie Jones wife knew Megan. Gordon Pinsent, award-winning Canadian actor, dies at 92,Gordon Pinsent, an award-winning Canadian actor acclaimed for his performance as a heartbroken husband in the film "Away From Her," has died at 92. And you know, actually, just had that compassion for people, that trust, that love for humans. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Her killer was Donnie Frank Jones Jr, who was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for her rape and murder. She further stated that Megan was her classmate, and she had never contacted her with a job offer. Then their communication stopped where police later found Megans car. She was later identified as 24-year-old Erika Megan Sharpton of Coffee County. Even with him denying the murder, authorities did not give up but depended on GPS tracking from the phone to figure out Donnies whereabouts. Nieces Chloe' Taylor, Baylee Sharpton, and Lizzy Sharpton. According to the Investigation Discovery show, authorities believed that Megan was lured to a place where she was raped before being killed, following which, Donnie poured fire accelerant on her privates and set her body on fire. Megan Sharpton, 24, was a resident of Tullahoma, Tennessee, and was a couple of months away from earning her college degree. Chance of rain 100%. Megan Sharptons boyfriend told detectives that he last saw her at the house before he left for work around 6:00 p.m. At times during interviews with the Times Free Press, Kelly Sharpton was strong, other times wracked with pain. This case is also unsolved, and in the same region as the 1999 unsolved disappearance of Kristie . Agents from the TBI and investigators from the Franklin County Sheriff's Department spent July 4 gathering evidence in connection with the murder of 24-year-old Erika Megan Sharpton of Tullahoma, who James Dellinger. Crump represented the Floyd family and won a $27 million wrongful-death settlement with the city. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. Nieces Chloe' Taylor, Baylee Sharpton, and Lizzy Sharpton. 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.