Albert Henry Jones III, a 23-year-old African American man from Wilson, NC, was found dead on August 30, 2022. His decomposing body was discovered four days later inside an abandoned church near the intersection of Speight School Road and U.S. 264 Alternate, about 2 miles northwest of Saratoga. The victim's cellphone and wallet were found with the body and retained as evidence by the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office.
An autopsy revealed that Jones died from multiple gunshot wounds.
Three bullets struck his left arm, one of which exited the arm and re-entered his chest. Three bullets struck him in the back, and one struck him in the back of the head. The investigation is still ongoing, and the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office has not released any suspects or arrests related to his death.
Jones had been released from state prison two and a half months prior to his death, after serving time for a manslaughter conviction in the death of Donna Lynne Davis in 2015. However, investigators have not found any connection between his release from prison and his murder. The case remains open, and the sheriff’s office is urging anyone with information to come forward.
The investigation into Jones' death is part of a broader effort by the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office to address a series of homicides in the area. In 2022, Wilson and Wilson County saw a combined total of nine homicides, with charges brought in some cases and investigations ongoing in others. The sheriff’s office continues to gather evidence and follow leads in hopes of bringing the perpetrator to justice.
