In March of 2016, the life of 16-year-old Altonise Jones was tragically cut short in Savannah, Georgia. The young female was reported missing by her concerned co-workers on March 21, 2016, after she hadn't been seen for two days. The initial search for Altonise led police to the home she shared with her elderly grandmother on West 39th Street. While officers were present, a relative made the devastating discovery of the teenager's body inside the residence.
Her death was quickly ruled a homicide by investigators.
For a year, the case remained under active investigation, a painful period of uncertainty for Altonise's family and the community. Then, in March of 2017, a significant breakthrough occurred. The Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department, in collaboration with the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, the U.S. Marshals, and the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office, announced the arrest of a suspect.
The individual taken into custody was 58-year-old Kevin Bentley, who was located and apprehended on St. Helena Island, South Carolina. Authorities revealed that Bentley was an associate of Altonise Jones's family, a detail that added another layer of sorrow to the already heartbreaking case. Following his arrest, Bentley was held at the Beaufort County Detention Center as he awaited extradition to face charges for the murder of Altonise Jones. While an arrest was made, further details regarding a trial, conviction, or sentencing in connection with this case are not available in the public record.
