In the small town of Waynesboro, Mississippi, the life of a 24-year-old Black woman named Joslin Quentara Napier was tragically cut short on the night of October 4, 2022. A fun-spirited and beautiful female who loved fashion and makeup, Joslin was also a dedicated mother to a young son. Despite living with the challenges of sickle cell disease, she was determined not to let it hinder her life.
Her mother, Tara Gandy, remembers her as a vibrant young woman whose favorite saying was, 'See you later beautiful,' a reflection of the warmth she extended to others.
The evening of her death, Joslin was found at her home on William Drive with a gunshot wound. She was rushed to Wayne General Hospital but ultimately succumbed to her injuries. The investigation quickly pointed to a history of domestic turmoil. Her ex-boyfriend, Chance Fabian Jones, had become an obsessive and controlling presence in her life after their on-and-off three-year relationship ended. In the months leading up to her death, police had been called to her home six times regarding Jones. Fearing for her safety, Joslin had sought and obtained a protective order against him and had even purchased a firearm for her own protection. Jones had been arrested twice for violating that order.
On that fatal October night, Jones broke into Joslin's home and shot her. Shortly after the incident, police arrested him. He was initially charged with first-degree murder, residential burglary, and aggravated assault with a firearm. A judge set his bond at $2 million. Later, the charges were elevated, and he was indicted for capital murder for killing Napier during the commission of a burglary. There was also a separate indictment for a previous incident in June 2022, where he was accused of aggravated domestic violence for pointing a gun at Napier and stomping on her head.
In May 2025, the case against Chance Fabian Jones went to trial. A jury found him guilty of capital murder in the shooting death of Joslin Napier. Following the conviction, a judge sentenced him to life in prison. In the wake of her daughter's death, Tara Gandy has become a vocal advocate against domestic violence, sharing her daughter's story to raise awareness and help others, ensuring that Joslin's memory serves a greater purpose. She feels that despite the guilty verdict, the system failed to protect her daughter from a known threat.
