Kaitlyn Coones and Jonathon Jones murdered Jones’ mother, Nicole Jones, authorities said. (Image of Coones: U.S. Marshals; mug shot of defendant Jones: Ohio Department of Corrections)
An 18-year-old woman in Ohio and her 33-year-old boyfriend may spend the remainder of their days behind bars for killing the boyfriend’s mother after the teen gave the older man “an ultimatum” to get rid of the victim for interfering in their relationship.
Lucas County Common Pleas Court Judge Gary G. Cook on Tuesday ordered Kaitlyn Coones and Jonathon Jones to 25 years to life in a state correctional facility for the vicious 2023 slaying of 53-year-old Nicole Jones, who was bludgeoned with a rock and strangled to death, authorities announced.
Coones and Jonathon Jones both reached deals with prosecutors and agreed to plead no contest to one count each of aggravated and one count each of abuse of a corpse in Nicole Jones’ death. In exchange for their pleas, prosecutors dropped several other charges the duo had been facing.
“This was a horrific event,” Lucas County Prosecutor Julia R. Bates said in a statement following the proceeding. “We are relieved to reach a resolution in this case. We hope this brings some measure of peace to Nicole Jones’ family. May her memory forever live in their hearts.”
According to a report from Toledo ABC and CW affiliate WTVG, Coones in 2023 was a 17-year-old who ran away from her foster home and was staying at the Jones’ home without Nicole Jones knowing.
