Shanna Jones, a 47-year-old female, was found dead in her Dunkirk, Indiana, home on Saturday, August 22, 2020. Law enforcement discovered her body when responding to a request for a welfare check at her residence located in the 10400 block of West Jay County Road 400-S. An autopsy later confirmed that she died from a shotgun wound to the head.
Authorities quickly identified Cory Michael Jones, 43, who resided at the same address, as a person of interest in her death. He was considered armed and dangerous, and a search was initiated. A family member had contacted police after Cory Jones allegedly told his father that he had accidentally shot Shanna Jones. Following this conversation, he fled and sent a text message to his father stating he was 'going 110 mph toward Illinois.'
The search for Cory Jones concluded on August 25, 2020, when he was apprehended in Martinsburg, West Virginia, by the U.S. Marshals Service's Fugitive Task Force.
He was subsequently extradited back to Jay County, Indiana, to face charges.
Initially charged with murder, Cory Jones eventually entered into a plea agreement. In November 2021, he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. As part of the plea deal, a habitual offender enhancement was also included, which could add to his sentence. The agreement carried a potential sentence ranging from a minimum of 16 years to a maximum of 50 years in prison. The prosecutor consulted with Shanna Jones's daughter, who was supportive of the plea deal to ensure a conviction and bring closure to the family.
