In the quiet community of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, the life of 22-year-old Lucas Coons was cut short in a fatal encounter on the eve of Thanksgiving in 2014. A graduate of Chambersburg Area Senior High School, Coons was employed as a welder at Letterkenny Army Depot. His life, however, took a tragic turn, leading to his untimely death.
The events leading to Lucas Coons' death began to unfold on November 25, 2014, when he arranged to purchase oxycodone pills from a man named Barton P.
Jones. Coons attempted to use counterfeit money for the transaction, a decision that would have fatal consequences. An argument erupted between Coons and Jones in the basement of Jones' home. In the heat of the moment, Jones brandished a loaded gun and shot Coons. The following morning, on November 26, 2014, Coons' body was discovered in the passenger seat of his own vehicle, which had been abandoned near a local restaurant.
The investigation into the death of Lucas Coons swiftly led to the identification of two suspects: 56-year-old Barton P. Jones and his 21-year-old son, Patrick Leroy Barton Holden. Jones faced a litany of charges, including criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with evidence. His son, Holden, was charged with helping his father move Coons' body, resulting in charges of abuse of a corpse and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.
Following his arrest, Barton P. Jones stood trial for his role in the death of Lucas Coons. He was ultimately convicted of third-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, false report to law enforcement authorities, tampering with physical evidence, and two counts of criminal conspiracy. His conviction for third-degree murder was later upheld after an appeal. The legal proceedings for Patrick Leroy Barton Holden resulted in a conviction for abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence.
