In the quiet city of Columbia, Tennessee, the life of a young woman, Clarissa Dyonna Maria Hernandez Keiser, was tragically cut short. At the age of 20, the Hispanic female, known for her artistic spirit and love for her family, became the victim of a violent encounter that would leave a community in mourning and a family shattered. Her death on March 9, 2021, marked a sudden and brutal end to a life that was just beginning to unfold.
On that Tuesday evening, events escalated at
Clarissa's home, leading to a fatal confrontation. An argument with another woman, identified as Chaisty Dawn Jones, turned physical. In the heat of the moment, a handgun was brandished, and a single shot was fired, striking and killing Clarissa. The motive behind the altercation that led to this tragic outcome has not been publicly released by law enforcement. The incident also left Jones with non-life-threatening injuries for which she received medical treatment.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Columbia Police Department launched an investigation that quickly led to the arrest of Chaisty Dawn Jones, who was 35 years old at the time. Jones was taken into custody and faced serious charges for her alleged role in Clarissa's death. The community was left to grapple with the senseless violence that had claimed the life of a young mother, who was remembered as a beautiful artist and a doting mother to her daughter, Venus. Clarissa had just recently married Joshua Keiser in February of the same year.
The legal proceedings against Chaisty Dawn Jones commenced, and in June 2021, a Maury County Grand Jury indicted her on multiple charges, including first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree felony murder in the perpetration of an aggravated burglary, aggravated burglary, employment of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, and simple possession of marijuana. Following the indictment, the case moved to trial, where the evidence and testimonies were presented. The jury ultimately found Jones guilty of the lesser-included offense of second-degree murder, as well as the other charges she faced. The court subsequently imposed an effective life sentence for her crimes. An appeal was later filed on Jones's behalf, arguing that the trial court had erred in its instructions to the jury regarding the duty to retreat before using self-defense. However, the appellate court affirmed the trial court's judgments, solidifying the conviction and sentence.
