In the quiet community of Collinsville, Mississippi, a grim discovery was made on a Monday in late June. Donald Wayne Jones Sr., a 78-year-old man, was found deceased in his home on June 22, 2015. Deputies from the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department had been dispatched to the residence after receiving a 911 call about a possible burglary in progress. Upon their arrival, they were unable to make contact with the homeowner.
Observing damage to a window at the back of the house, the deputies forced entry and found Mr. Jones inside, the victim of a fatal shooting.
The investigation into the death of the retired Lauderdale County School System employee and former auto repair shop owner quickly focused on a person of interest: his own son. The following day, Donald Wayne Jones Jr., 30 years old at the time, was taken into custody. Initially held on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm, he was soon charged with capital murder in connection with his father's death, along with a count of burglary of a residence. Authorities announced that tips from the community had been instrumental in leading to his arrest. Investigators also believed they had recovered the weapon used in the crime.
The legal proceedings that followed brought a resolution to the tragic case. In February 2017, Donald Wayne Jones Jr. accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree murder. This plea was part of an agreement in which he cooperated with the district attorney's office in the prosecution of others who had assisted him after the crime. Subsequently, he was sentenced to the maximum 40 years in prison for the murder of his father, a sentence that must be served day for day. Two other individuals were also convicted for their roles after the fact. Delma Pruett was convicted of accessory after the fact to burglary of a dwelling, and Coy DePriest was convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon for their actions in the aftermath of the murder.
