Megan Sharpton, 24, found burning in Franklin County died of blunt force trauma/Donnie Jones arrested. Update: 02/04/13: Jones pleads GUILTY, sentenced to Life in Prison w/No Parole!/Update 2/25/13: Jones files a petition to w/draw guilty plea

published Tuesday, July 10th, 2012
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Preliminary autopsy results show a blow to the head likely killed the 24-year-old nursing student whose body was found a week ago still burning on the side of a Franklin County back road, authorities said Monday.

Erika Megan Sharpton, of 109 Camellia Circle in Tullahoma, Tenn., died as a result of blunt force trauma, according to Franklin County investigators and TBI agents, but authorities remained tight-lipped on other details as detectives continue to conduct interviews. No arrests have been made.

Sharpton's body was found by a passing motorist about 1:18 a.m. CDT on July 2, still burning in a grassy area off Awalt Road. The fire left a burned patch in a narrow pull-off at the west end of the bridge over Tims Ford Lake, authorities said.

Later the same day, Sharpton's red 1995 Ford Mustang was found on Three Forks Bridge Road near U.S. Highway 64 in Normandy, Tenn.

Sharpton probably was killed elsewhere before her body was dumped and burned on the side of the road, Franklin County Sheriff's Office Detective Sgt. Chris Guess said Monday.

"I can't say with 100 percent certainty but we're pretty sure she was not" killed at the site where her body was found, Guess said.

Guess said he "can't say" anything about who last saw Sharpton alive or where, but "we're running down leads and talking to people." He also said he couldn't say whether Sharpton's car was used in the slaying.

TBI spokeswoman Kristin Helm said the agency can't release any details because agents still are seeking answers. Authorities said Sharpton's car was being processed at the agency's crime lab.

Her obituary in the Tullahoma News described Sharpton as the world's "brightest star" and "a compassionate, caring soul."

She was enrolled in the nursing program at Motlow State Community College, according to officials.

Sharpton's mother, Kelly Sharpton, told Nashville's Channel 5 News over the weekend that her daughter was "brutally honest" and "brutally trusting," both characteristics that might have played into her slaying.

Meanwhile, authorities ask that anyone with information call Franklin County Sheriff's Office Detective Todd Hindman at 931-962-0123 or the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-824-3463.

Contact staff writer Ben Benton at 423-757-6569 or [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]. Subscribe to his Facebook posts at [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] or follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/BenBenton.

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Posted on: 6:54 pm, July 19, 2012, by David Wood, updated on: 06:55pm, July 19, 2012

It has been two weeks since the body of twenty-four year old Tullahoma woman Megan Sharpton was found burned along the roadside in Tennessee. Sharpton’s death has been ruled a homicide.

While the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department says two grueling weeks of the former nursing student’s death investigation have uncovered no standout leads, they do say dozens of exhaustive interviews have helped them to narrow their focus.

“It takes quite a while just to amass the physical evidence,” said Franklin County, Tennessee Sergeant Chris Guess Thursday, ” To get the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation returned results so you can start piecing that together; subpoenas for things like phone records, search warrants that you have to execute, it’s a tremendous amount to do, so I’d say we’re just day-to-day making as much headway as we can.”
Megan Sharpton’s mother tells WHNT News 19 Franklin County investigators ruled out her daughter’s live-in boyfriend as a suspect early on in the investigation.

“He was at work at the time of the crime and he holds a very public position,” said Kelly Sharpton. “From the beginning I told investigator Todd Hindman I would be very surprised if he had anything to do with my daughter’s death.”

While Franklin County investigators cast a net up to nine counties wide, Megan Sharpton’s family does their best to remain patient.

“The Franklin County Sheriff’s Department has been wonderful. They’ve kept us in tune with everything they’re doing even if it’s a little detail, they tell us and that helps us to know that they’re still hunting too for whoever took her from us. It’s just a day-to-day process, but somebody has to know something.”

As Kelly Sharpton holds on to the light of her daughter’s smile, she’s confident investigators are working around the clock for Megan.
“We’re doing everything we can,” assured Sergeant Chris Guess, “and our guys are working absolutely as hard as they can to try to find whoever did this and bring them to justice, that’s everybody’s ultimate goal.”

If you have any information that could aid investigators in the search for who is responsible for Megan Sharpton’s Death, you’re urged to call the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department at 931-976-2331 or the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-LOST

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video at above link.

Family of murder victim Megan Sharpton sets reward fund
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Posted on Thursday, July 12, 2012 at 4:15 pm
By WAYNE THOMAS
Staff Writer

As the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department and the TBI continue to investigate the murder of 24-year-old Megan Sharpton of Tullahoma, her family has established a reward fund for the arrest of the person or persons responsible for her death.

Anyone wanting to contribute to the reward fund may do so by sending donations to the Megan Sharpton account at any branch of American City Bank.

According to sheriff’s department investigators, they have interviewed a number of people in Coffee, Franklin and Bedford counties regarding Megan’s murder.

“We feel that there are people out there who saw Megan on July 1st but who haven’t come forward to tell us about seeing her,” Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller said.

Meanwhile, Leah Sharpton said that she hopes anyone who saw her sister on that day will take time to call the sheriff’s department.

The partially burned body of Megan Sharpton was found around 1:30 a.m. July 1 on Awalt Road in Franklin County.

Police determined that the young woman died of blunt force trauma.

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Law enforcement officers inFranklinand Coffee counties as well as the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are working around the clock in an intensive effort to gather information and evidence in the murder of the 24-year-old nursing student whose body was discovered burning next toAwaltBridgejust after 1 a.m. on Monday, July 2. Her red 1995 Ford Mustang was located abandoned later that afternoon onThree Forks Bridge Rd.inBedfordCounty.

A passing driver discovered her burning body offAwalt RoadinFranklinCountyin the early morning hours of July 2.

Since the discovery of the body, investigators have questioned numerous individuals and have found a number of pieces of evidence, among them the victim’s pink purse that was discovered in Rock Creek in the Estill Springs area.

“We have sent the evidence to the TBI Crime Lab for analysis,” Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller said.

Still to be determined is where and in which countyMeganwas killed by “blunt force trauma,” according to the preliminary autopsy report. The completed report should be available in a few weeks.

Last Saturday her family and friends gathered to say goodbye and hold a cel- ebration of life for the young woman.

Megan was last seen Sunday, July 1.

“We are asking that anyone who saw her that day to contact the sheriff’s department or the TBI,” Fuller said.

“We ask that anyone with information regarding Megan’s red Ford Mustang that was abandoned in the middle of Three Forks Bridge Road in Bedford County to contact the sheriff’s department,” he said. “We regard this as vital information in this case.”

Fuller added that his investigators are working with authorities in Bedford and Coffee counties in the murder investigation.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department at 931-967-2331 or the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

According to Megan’s mother, Kelly Hale, her family has begun a reward fund at American City Bank that will lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Megan’s death.

“I wish I knew the answers and am praying every day that something will lead us in the right direction,” Hale wrote in a Facebook message to The Tullahoma News. “Just make sure everyone knows she was worth looking for answers for. She would have been an excellent nurse and was our shiny, lovely sister and daughter and our hearts remain broken into a thousand tiny pieces. Please keep her voice alive … she was a gift to our town and this world.”

snipped from:
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Jul 9, 2012

Who Murdered Erika Megan Sharpton?

The body of 24-year-old Erika Megan Sharpton was found burning on a grass patch along Awalt Road -- northwest of Winchester, Tenn. last week. This gruesome case has already been ruled a homicide, but the details behind it are very thin. There are no known suspects, and up until recently her car was still missing. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is assisting with local authorities on this case, as they do with crimes of this nature often. But their success rate with solving murders and cases of missing women in the state isn't really high. That's a shame because in the past two decades alone the state of Tennessee has been home to some downright bizarre and horrendous unsolved crimes involving women under the age of 30.

The location of Erika Megan Sharpton's body lies about two hours from Darden -- where Holly Bobo vanished in April of 2011. This case is also unsolved, and in the same region as the 1999 unsolved disappearance of Kristie Baugus Moon -- who has never been located but presumed to had been fed to pigs by her former boyfriend. Why does this region appear to be so lawless when it comes to women? Do investigators simply not look into them the way they should?

Only time will tell, but police say they are diligently working to solve this case. Do you believe them?

There are many questions to be posed in this:

Did Erika Sharpton have a boyfriend?
More often than not, the victims of homicide -- especially women -- are victimized by their significant other or someone they were once with romantically. She could have been the victim of a domestic altercation gone too far. The cause of death was blunt force trauma -- meaning someone beat her to death with either their fists or a foreign object. This is often the choice way of homicide between lovers or those who are close to one another in some fashion. It also indicates that the crime occurred in a fit of rage, as opposed to being premeditated.

Did Erika Sharpton have a safe lifestyle?
It's unfortunate, but sometimes a person's lifestyle makes them more vulnerable to homicide and attacks such as this one. She could have been running around the wrong types of people, could have been involved with drugs or the human trafficking scene. What kind of lifestyle did Erika live?

It's also highly likely that this is a random slaying, though the level of care taken to dispose of her body seems a bit off in that aspect. She was murdered and left burning on the side of the road where she could easily be discovered. This seems like a message was being sent to someone, but what message and to whom?

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Posted on: 7:23 pm, July 19, 2012, by David Wood

“She was my daughter, she was our sister, she was an aunt, she was a cousin, she was a friend. If she was yours you’d want to know too, you just need to tell us, just anything, we just need to know.”

Thursday WHNT News 19 spoke exclusively with Kelly Sharpton, the mother of twenty-four year old former nursing student Megan Sharpton.

Megan’s body was found two weeks ago burning along the roadside near Tims Ford Lake in Tennessee.

As investigators continue to process physical evidence and conduct exhaustive interviews in the case, the Sharpton family is now taking the search for answers into their own hands.

“We’re just looking for answers we just want anybody that may have seen the tiniest thing,” said Kelly Sharpton, “the tiniest detail, if they could just think back to Sunday July first, the last day we saw her and just let us know, we just need to know what happened to her.”
With two weeks since their daughter’s death, support from the community and the hope for some type of closure is all the Sharpton family says they have to hold on to.

“It’s still very surreal, she was just taken,” said Shaprton’s mother, “somebody just took her.”

Megan’s siblings and fellow nursing students have now set out on a campaign to raise funds in order to offer a reward for any information leading to an arrest. Megan’s mother Kelly says the whole town of Tullahoma has jumped on board.

“They’ve done several fundraisers, they’re selling the shirts, they did a car wash and they’ve made the bracelets they’re selling and there’s a reward fund set up at American City Bank, donations are being accepted there and it’s growing pretty rapidly.”

The fund is growing rapidly like a small town’s empathy for a young girl with a bright future.

“Like I said, she loved people and was very compassionate–it’s just such a waste.”

If you have any information regarding Megan Shaprton’s death, you’re urged to call
1800-TBI-LOST or the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department at931-967-2331.

If no one comes forward with information leading to an arrest, the family plans to use the reward fund money to establish a scholarship in Megan’s name.

Megan Sharpton was set to graduate nursing school this fall.

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must-see video!

Another one in TN. It sure makes me wonder what's going on in that state, either with LE or is there a serial murderer getting away with these girls? So sad.

It has been two weeks since the body of twenty-four year old Tullahoma woman Megan Sharpton was found burned along the roadside in Tennessee. Sharpton’s death has been ruled a homicide.
While the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department says two grueling weeks of the former nursing student’s death investigation have uncovered no standout leads, they do say dozens of exhaustive interviews have helped them to narrow their focus.
“It takes quite a while just to amass the physical evidence,” said Franklin County, Tennessee Sergeant Chris Guess Thursday, ” To get the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation returned results so you can start piecing that together; subpoenas for things like phone records, search warrants that you have to execute, it’s a tremendous amount to do, so I’d say we’re just day-to-day making as much headway as we can.”
Megan Sharpton’s mother tells WHNT News 19 Franklin County investigators ruled out her daughter’s live-in boyfriend as a suspect early on in the investigation.
“He was at work at the time of the crime and he holds a very public position,” said Kelly Sharpton. “From the beginning I told investigator Todd Hindman I would be very surprised if he had anything to do with my daughter’s death.”
While Franklin County investigators cast a net up to nine counties wide, Megan Sharpton’s family does their best to remain patient.
“The Franklin County Sheriff’s Department has been wonderful. They’ve kept us in tune with everything they’re doing even if it’s a little detail, they tell us and that helps us to know that they’re still hunting too for whoever took her from us. It’s just a day-to-day process, but somebody has to know something.”
As Kelly Sharpton holds on to the light of her daughter’s smile, she’s confident investigators are working around the clock for Megan.
“We’re doing everything we can,” assured Sergeant Chris Guess, “and our guys are working absolutely as hard as they can to try to find whoever did this and bring them to justice, that’s everybody’s ultimate goal.”
If you have any information that could aid investigators in the search for who is responsible for Megan Sharpton’s Death, you’re urged to call the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department at 931-976-2331 or the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-LOST
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Video at link

Published:July 25th, 2012 06:59 EST

Megan Sharpton`s Homicide in Tullahoma, Tn is Highly Unusual!

By John G. Kays

The circumstances of Erika Megan Sharpton`s death (which has been ruled a homicide) are quite unusual. Megan was suppose to drop by her family`s house that day (a Sunday, July 1st), since her sister was in town.

She last talked to her mother (by phone), Kelly Sharpton, at around 3:45 PM that Sunday, when June turned into July. Megan mentioned she would try to hook up with a possible patient (Megan was a nursing student), an elderly lady, I believe.

We know she met with her boyfriend after speaking with her mother, but he went to work, so he has a good alibi and has been cleared by the Franklin County Sheriff`s Department. But where did Megan go after leaving her boyfriend`s?

There are other aspects of her case that are highly unusual, as well. Whoever killed her, spread the evidence out over three locations. Her pink purse was left in one spot, her red Mustang in another, and her burning body in yet a third location.

Not that the perpetrator was particularly clever in the ways he attempted to cover up what he`d done, but rather a certain level of diabolical desperation and deliberation is present. Did Megan know her killer?

Experts fall on both sides of the fence in this matter. Both are right, however, in saying that the unknown killer wanted her body (and her purse and car) to be found. He could have taken her body much deeper in the woods, but rather chose to leave it in a clearing, off the side of the road, where it would be easily discovered.

Several puzzling elements of the crime are presented to the detectives working on Ms. Sharpton`s case. Why was her red Mustang abandoned in the middle of Three Forks Bridge Road? Why not take the car to a less obvious place to get rid of it? Then, once exiting the car, how did the perpetrator get away? Did he walk, possibly hitchhike, or did he have access to another vehicle?

Moreover, Megan`s purse was found 5 miles away from where body was dumped, which was then set on fire. Is the the purse spot the place where the murder took place? Was it a sexual assault that led to rage (when his advances were rejected), then the bludgeoning occurs?

I believe this theory! With an acceptance of this scenario, the purse location is event one, the burning of the body, 5 miles away, is event 2, and the red Mustang left on the bridge, 16 miles away, is event 3. That`s the chronology of the crime in an unfolding time lapse.

That`s my call, and another call is that she knew her killer, if only vaguely. Why was she set on fire only from her naval down to her feet? We know she was nude in that area as well. Where did the perpetrator get the gasoline (or whatever accelerant was used?) to burn her body with?

With this in mind, I would think, after killing her, he would have to go to a gas station and purchase the gas, if not the can. Of course, if he used lighter fluid, this would make the purchase less conspicuous. A third scenario, is that he returns to his own house (in her Mustang) and picks up an accelerant previously purchased. Any of these sketches will work.

Naturally, if she didn`t know her killer, we might apply the ubiquitous `serial killer theory.` There`s a fit here also, if a naive and caring Ms. Sharpton, say, picked up a ragged hitchhiker of some kind. This is a distinct possibility! And the way the crime was covered up, or made to look, it would seem as if he had done this sort of thing before.

25 days since this terrible homicide, and no suspects are yet emerging. It would be nice if I could tune in a little closer, yea, it would help a great deal. I`m no psychic, but if I could concentrate a little harder, I`m nearly seeing who did this to Megan Sharpton and why they did it too!

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012
Help Find Erika Megan Sharpton's Killer

Brutal Murder Stuns Peaceful Community
by Robert A. Waters

Beautiful, peaceful, family-oriented Coffee County, Tennessee is located in the southern part of the state. Hundreds of churches dot its towns and communities, and friendly people exhibit a laid-back lifestyle. Violent crime is rare.

Tullahoma, the county’s southern-most town, is advertised by the Chamber of Commerce as a “micropolitan city.” While less than 20,000 inhabitants live there, Motlow State Community College and the University of Tennessee Space Institute are nearby.

Twenty-four-year-old Erika Megan Sharpton (called Megan) planned to be a nurse. The Winchester Herald Chronicle reported that “in addition to studying nursing at Motlow College, Megan worked as a waitress at Yamato restaurant in Tullahoma and also worked at a nursing home to gain experience in her career field.”

On July 2, at about 1 A.M., a passerby spotted a brush-fire near the Awalt Bridge that spans Tims Ford Lake in Franklin County. Upon further inspection, he discovered the body of Megan Sharpton, half-consumed by flames. Investigators later determined that she’d likely died elsewhere. The autopsy ruled “blunt force trauma” as the cause of death.

Megan’s car, a 1995 Ford Mustang, was found several miles away, stopped in the middle of Three Forks Bridge in rural Bedford County. The Coffee County, Franklin County, and Bedford County sheriff’s offices are involved in the investigation, as well as the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).

So far, no one has been charged. Law enforcement officials have been tight-lipped about the case, revealing little information.

According to news reports, Megan’s boyfriend was working at the time of the murder and has been eliminated. Many reports have speculated that this may have been a stranger-on-stranger attack.

In fact, when she was murdered, Megan was on her way to act as a caretaker for an elderly patient.

Megan’s grieving family issued the following statement: “The world has lost its brightest star. The amazing Erika Megan Sharpton was torn from us on July 2, 2012. She was very loved by her family, her friends, and the whole community. We cherish the time we had with our Megan and are grateful for the breadth and variety of experiences we were able to share in her tragically abbreviated life.”

Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller said: “We are asking that anyone who saw her that day to contact the sheriff’s department or the TBI. We ask that anyone with information regarding Megan’s red Ford Mustang that was abandoned in the middle of Three Forks Bridge Road in Bedford County to contact the sheriff’s department. We regard this as vital information in this case.”

What happened on that sad night more than a month ago?

If you have information, please call the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office at 931-967-2331 or TBI at 1-800-824-3463.

If you wish to help the family set up a reward fund, send contributions to the attention of "Michelle" at American City Bank, 340 W. Lincoln St., Tullahoma, TN 37388 or stop by any of the American City Bank branches in Tullahoma, Manchester or Decherd. For additional information, call American City Bank's main branch manager Michelle Martin at 931-455-0026.

[NOTE: This case struck home with me because I lived in Coffee County for five years. I met my beautiful wife there, and obtained my bachelor’s degree from nearby Middle Tennessee State University. After moving back to my native Florida in the mid-1970s, my wife and I visited her parents in Manchester several times a year for as long as they lived. I still have friends in the area and consider Coffee County to be my second home.]

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Posted: Aug 15, 2012 4:55 PM CDT
Updated: Aug 15, 2012 10:07 PM CDT

TULLAHOMA, Tenn.- Officials with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office said they are close to making an arrest in the case of a woman whose body was found burning in a grassy area in Franklin County last month.

The victim was identified as 24-year-old nursing student Erika Megan Sharpton from Tullahoma. Her burning body was discovered in the early morning hours of July 2 near the Awalt Bridge in Franklin County by a motorist. Sharpton's car was later found in the middle of Three Forks Bridge in Bedford County. Investigators said a witness saw the car and thought someone had run out of gas. When no one returned he called authorities.

Officials ruled her death a homicide and detectives said preliminary reports indicated that Sharpton died of blunt force trauma.

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Interesting article on this case at:

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Thanks lisette.

TULLAHOMA, Tenn. — Law enforcement officials say they are continuing to gather information about the death of a nursing student found dead in July in Tullahoma.

Franklin County District Attorney Mike Taylor told The Tullahoma News (bit.ly/OK1v0I) he's been meeting with sheriff's investigators about the case of 24-year-old Megan Sharpton of Tullahoma.

Taylor says he's waiting on analysis of evidence sent to the TBI Crime Lab and that investigators are following up on some new information.

Sharpton's body was found July 2.

Although family, friends and many others are anxiously awaiting an arrest or arrests in the July 2 murder of Megan Sharpton of Tullahoma, investigators say they are working to develop an air-tight case.
Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller says investigators are working long hours on the case.
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This is the saddest story. Seems Megan was working, going to school to become a nurse, never gave her parents on anyone any trouble and she's dead!!!

I am saddened and a little scared to know that there is not really even a suspect in this case.. I live not 2 miles from where she was found and drive past there almost every time I go to town, what in the world is wrong with people nowadays? She was such a beautiful person from what I read about her and I am sure she is looking over everyone, from what I have learned, she is literally looking over everyone and not just her family, such a big heart she obviously had. R.I.P sweet angel, one day your loved ones will see your smile again.

Megan Sharpton Murder Update: Arrests May Be Near

Posted on: 5:49 pm, September 11, 2012, by David Wood

WINCHESTER, Tn. (WHNT)–Megan Sharpton’s mother is pleading for help from Franklin County, Tennessee District Attorney Mike Taylor. She wants the man she believes is responsible for her daughter’s death behind bars.

Twenty-four-year old nursing student Megan Sharpton’s body was found beat and burning on a Bedford County roadside in early July.

Franklin County, Tennessee investigators say they have amassed a mountain of both circumstantial and direct evidence against a prime person of interest and the individual they believe to be responsible for what they call the brutal murder of Sharpton. They also say they believe that person did not act alone. Now both the family and the sheriff’s department alike are waiting for the district attorney to make the call for official charges.
“You take on somewhat of their grief and their pain when you work on a case like this,” said Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller Tuesday.
Sheriff Fuller says he takes Megan Sharpton’s death personally and says the mounting evidence pointing to one Tullahoma, Tennessee man make an arrest practically imminent.
But Fuller says district attorney Mike Taylor requires a few more facts before he can clinch an official charge.

“Taylor has to prosecute this case and we fully understand he has to be careful to be able to carry this all the way through without a shadow of a doubt,” Fuller explained.

“This is a horrendous case with a very violent death and there’s a lot of circumstances surrounding this case that it could possibly even be a death sentence situation.”

Kelly Sharpton, though, says she is running out of patience quickly. She knows socially the person believed to be responsible for Megan’s murder, a man she calls a predator who had made contact with and threatened her family at a Tullahoma High School football game last Friday.

“My daughter-in-law was there at the game,” said Sharpton, “and he approached her and physically tapped her on the shoulder and talked to her and I think that’s a little bit scary if he’s bold enough to approach our family. What else is he bold enough to do? He is the prime suspect, after all.” Sheriff Fuller, who has been anticipating an arrest for some time now says he worries about public safety.

“Our concern is, in the person of interest we’re dealing with, is that there could be some other crimes,” said Fuller. “It is a real concern, indeed.”
Grieving mother Kelly Sharpton says she fears the same.
“Our concern is for everyone else out there,” she said. “We’ve lost our child. I can’t let another family hurt this hurt or feel this feeling, it’s just too much.”
Though Sheriff Fuller says an arrest is likely any day, district attorney Mike Taylor did not want to release the identity of who they are calling a person of interest at this time.

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Arrest the guy already!!!

Mother of Megan Sharpton Terrified of Man
September 11, 2012

The mother of Ericka Megan Sharpton claims that there is a particular person of interest in their small Tennessee town who has made contact with her family. She is "terrified" of the man, claiming that the contact he made with the mother of the slain teen has been "threatening." The name of this person isn't being released due to the integrity of the investigation, but it's apparent this person has the slain girl's family concerned.

Ericka Megan Sharpton was found dead on the side of a rural road in a grassy area. She had been beaten to death and her body set on fire in a display of depravity that has residents of the area chilled to the bone. If this person of interest is the one responsible for the horrific murder of the 24-year-old woman, then it's surprising that he hasn't yet been arrested. The mother of the murdered woman feels the same way. She can't understand why the guy hasn't been arrested.

Everyone in the little town of Tullahoma is holding this case close to their chests, but why? Is it because of how small of a town it is? It seems that small town mentalities either try to protect their own or hide details to protect the reputation of the area. Anytime a gruesome case like this pops up in the headlines out of Tennessee or another southern region, it seems that the details are quickly sealed and names are very seldom released. Will any of this help in the murder of Ericka Sharpton, or is it only going to hinder justice?

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It's a shame that this family is having to go through this after losing Megan in such a horrible way! I don't blame them for being afraid and angry!

A CALL TO ACTION FOR MEGAN SHARPTON!

Posted on September 11, 2012

We have been following Megan Sharpton’s case since 2 weeks after Megan’s murder. There has been no doubt, through all of the developments in this case that Law Enforcement was on the right track and that Justice For Megan Sharpton would come. Everyone has had the utmost in patience for the Wheels Of Justice to turn, after all most of us know that what we see on tv, that comes from Hollywood, is not how things really work. Investigations take time and testing doesn’t come back overnight and crimes are not always solved over a penny or something off the wall, in real life, like they are tv. Most of the public is aware of that and though we get impatient, especially when we are talking about dangerous people, we do know that the i’s have to be dotted and the t’s crossed, because we know how fickle juries can sometimes be and we certainly know how dastardly and underhanded criminal defense attorneys can be, when it comes to the guilty that they have no defense for. We’ve seen it. We do understand that they want to be sure that they have the right person or persons and that they have the evidence to convict. We get it.

However, there comes a time when there is enough evidence to make an arrest, certainly enough to get a conviction, but then a District Attorney refuses to charge in that case, then it is time to explore the avenue of public pressure. It is time for the public to stand up and speak out, because Law Enforcement (LE) is not the only branch of the legal system that is supposed to SERVE AND PROTECT. The District Attorney also has that responsibility on his or her end of things.

TENNESSEE………..WE HAVE A PROBLEM! You have a District Attorney that has enough evidence to issue an indictment and give the go ahead for at least 1 arrest here and he won’t even call the victim’s family back, on top of not issuing an indictment and giving LE the go ahead to make the arrest.

This is the District Attorney that refuses to act:

Tennessee County Officials Directory J. Michael Taylor, District Attorney General Franklin County
375 Church Street, Suite 300 Dayton, TN 37321 Fax: (423) 775-2805

Mr. Taylor is stalling and he is not communicating. While Mr. Taylor is stalling and being, well, you know, hard to reach, Niecey has had some eyes and ears to the ground and WORD has gotten back, that not only is the main “person of interest” stalking the family and harassing, he has tried to get some other young girls in the position for him to strike again and while I cannot reveal his name and his UGLY mug shot, I can tell you that he was arrested for rape in 1993 (in another county) and they gave him a plea deal, he is not even labeled a sex offender. He also had a prior rape that wasn’t that terribly long ago, in which the victim chickened out and refused to pursue charges, because she was so afraid of this TWISTED, EVIL, PIECE OF GARBAGE. In a recent confrontation he told a young woman that: “I’m M*****F******___________ And You Don’t Want None Of This.” There was a police report filed.
I am completely baffled as to why Mr. MF_______ thinks he is all that and a bag of chips, unless it is because he has been enabled and empowered by a system that seems to not care what he does. Victims are afraid of him and rightfully so, because he has not really had much consequence and he is an empowered psychopath. I cannot imagine why Mr. Taylor doesn’t want this guy off of the streets, ASAP! Niecey’s sources tell her that they have enough for this guy to be arrested and off of the streets. Please understand, this is not the fault of any of the LE involved. This rests solely on the shoulders of Mr. Taylor and his office.

Here is where you can help, I have removed Mr. Taylor’s phone number, as we really don’t need to tie up his phone. He needs letters, both mailed and faxed to his office, respectfully encouraging him to get a very dangerous psychopath off of the street. If he does not, very soon, I have no doubt there will be other victims.

You do not have to live in Tennessee to write to Mr. Taylor. You do not have to live in the US to write to Mr. Taylor. If you care about Megan and you want a killer off of the streets, write to Mr. Taylor and respectfully ask him to please act to keep the public he serves, SAFE. That is in part, his responsibility in a situation like this.

The following article, complete with video is the only source of information that I can share with you, but it says enough.

MURDER VICTIM’S MOM PLEADS FOR HELP


But, Megan’s mom says there’s one specific “person of interest” in the small town of Tullahoma that has her terrified.

“He’s made contact with our family directly since this happened, threateningly, and we’re concerned,” Sharpton says.

Mr. Taylor has to say:

“It’s the evidence that’s produced by the investigation that you have to rely on in a criminal case and like I say, the investigation is ongoing,” Taylor says.

He doesn’t want to release the name of the “persons of interest”. Yes, “persons”. There is more than one person involved in this, but there is one ring leader, the man who actually makes it happen, surrounded by enablers that help him to get victims and facilitate his behavior.

“Haven’t heard from Taylor in several days and I’m concerned, especially with the events of him contacting our family,” Sharpton says.

Mr. Taylor does not seem that concerned to me. I get that he may want all of the fish, but when you have the BIG FISH, dead to right, well, why not go ahead and get him off of the streets.

The incident that happened this weekend was in a public place and many people saw and heard what transpired between Mr. MF__________ and the young woman. He’s bold. He’s dangerous and he really needs to be behind bars, where he can be put in his skanky place.

“The sheriff’s office and the district attorney’s office have to work to try to work together. When powers that be decide enough evidence, we expect that would happen,” Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Chris Guess says.

Please write to Mr. Taylor and ask him to take a killer off of the streets, before he kills again, if he hasn’t already. Let him know, that this guy is desperately trying to take more victims. Let him know that YOU ARE A VOICE FOR MEGAN SHARPTON. Let him know that YOU ARE A VOICE FOR VICTIMS. Please be respectful and please share this with everyone you know. If you are unsure as to whether you want to do this or not, please know that Megan was brutalized so badly that I don’t think you want to know what all he did to her. This psychopath has raped before and he escalated to killing with Megan. He’s not going to stop now, because in his words, “I’m M*****F******_____________________, And You Don’t Want None Of This.” What’s worse is that he’s not only looking for more victims, but after brutalizing Megan, taking her life, he is stalking her family and others in the area. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING!!!

Let’s stand for Megan and all the young women in her community and show this skank that the world will not stop until he’s put away for LIFE.

Thank You,

Niecey

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No lie! If he threatened the family and the Sheriff feels he a danger to the public, what is the hold up?

The mother of Ericka Megan Sharpton claims that there is a particular person of interest in their small Tennessee town who has made contact with her family. She is "terrified" of the man, claiming that the contact he made with the mother of the slain teen has been "threatening." The name of this person isn't being released due to the integrity of the investigation, but it's apparent this person has the slain girl's family concerned.

He's contacted the family and is stalking them and others? Isn't too smart, is he? He may as well wear a sign saying he killed Megan..and possibly others. I don't doubt that this ignorant, stupid murderer will be arrested any day now and locked away forever!

raine1953 wrote:No lie! If he threatened the family and the Sheriff feels he a danger to the public, what is the hold up?

Seriously, I could not agree more!!

Bullets Shot At Home Of Murder Victim’s Family

Posted: Sep 12, 2012 7:47 PM CDT
Updated: Sep 13, 2012 8:18 AM CDT

TULLAHOMA, Tenn. - A family who lost their daughter in a tragic unsolved murder said someone shot at their home.

Just after Megan Sharpton's family spoke to NewsChannel 5 on Tuesday about their fears for their safety in the small town of Tullahoma, bullets were sprayed into a sign in front of Megan's grandmother's house. Megan's mother Kelly said she believes it was another act of intimidation.

24-year-old Megan Sharpton's partially burned body was found July 2 at the Awalt Bridge in Franklin County. Her car was found later the same day about 20 miles away. Her death was ruled a homicide and detectives said preliminary reports indicated that Sharpton died of blunt force trauma. No arrests have been made in the case.

Kelly Sharpton told NewsChannel 5 that the family's nightmare continues after "a person of interest" in the case approached and threatened a family member. She said the incident happened at a Tullahoma High School football game Friday night.

Law enforcement officials said they are continuing to gather information about the death of the nursing student, but have not released the names of any suspects.

Although the shooting has frightened the family, they were thankful that no one was injured.

Anyone with information on the case can call the Franklin County Sheriff's Office at 931-967-2331, or the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-FIND. A reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest.

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This poor family!!

Interesting new info in article at:

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That is one heck of an article. Thanks, lisette.

Murder victim’s family threatened by suspect

Added by TSI News on September 17, 2012.

wayne hudgens
WFTZ, 101.5 FM

The mother of a slain Tullahoma nursing student says she can’t understand why the man she believes is responsible for her daughter’s brutal murder is still free.

Kelly Sharpton says the man is terrorizing her and other family members.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports Sharpton claims her daughter-in-law was confronted by the suspect during the Coffee Pot Football Game at Tullahoma High School last Friday.

She says the victim’s grandmother found bullet holes in a realtor’s sign outside her home earlier this week. District Attorney General Mike Taylor says he understands Sharpton’s frustration, and he is working to present a case to the Franklin County Grand Jury.

The still-burning body of Erika Megan Sharpton was found by a motorist near the Awalt bridge over Tims Ford Lake July 2.

Her car was later found in Bedford County. Authorities say the woman died from blunt force trauma.

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I don't get it. WHY don't they arrest this degenerate???

Arrest Made In Tullahoma Nursing Student's Murder

Posted: Sep 27, 2012 1:42 PM CDT
Updated: Sep 27, 2012 7:39 PM CDT

TULLAHOMA, Tenn.- An arrest has been made in the case of a Tullahoma nursing student whose burned body was found in July.

Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller said that Donnie Jones has been arrested in connection with the case. Jones was not charged with the murder of Megan Sharpton, however, only felon in possession of firearms.

Investigators spent the day Thursday, searching a home on Bellaire Drive in connection with the case. No details were released about whose house was searched, what they were searching for, or what they found.

Authorities said they were close to making an arrest in the case in August. The 24-year-old nursing student's partially burned body was found July 2 at the Awalt Bridge in Franklin County. Her car was found later the same day about 20 miles away. Her death was ruled a homicide and detectives said preliminary reports indicated that Sharpton died of blunt force trauma.

Sharpton's family said earlier this month that they feared for their safety after a "person of interest" in the case threatened a family member at a Tullahoma High School football game. A few days later, the family said someone fire rounds at a realtor's sign in the front yard of a relative. No one was hurt.

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must-see video at above link.

Megan Sharpton Update: Donnie Jones Arrested

September 28, 2012 07:05 AM EDT
The murder of Ericka Megan Sharpton is closer to being solved with the arrest of Donnie Jones, an area man. This update comes after the family has been terrorized by the guy. He had the audacity to threaten them at a local football game, and most recently shots were fired at the home of the victim's grandmother. It was hard to understand why it took so long to arrest Jones, but it's fortunate that it's finally happened.

Donnie Jones isn't yet charged in connection with Megan's murder, but he is being held on felony possession of firearms. For the time being, investigators will probably tie up the investigation and charge him before he has a chance to flee.

Twenty-four-year-old Ericka Megan Sharpton was beaten to death and then set on fire out in the open to be discovered. This was a horrific death that still confuses those who know about it to this day. It is not known why she was murdered, but with the arrest of the man believed responsible those answers may come to the public eventually.

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Finally! I couldn't believe the DA was allowing this guy to be free when he was terrorizing the family of the victim!!!!!

I know, huh? Just hope they charge him w/her murder!!

published Saturday, September 29th, 2012
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Donnie Jones
Photo by Contributed Photo /Chattanooga Times Free Press.

The man authorities call a "person of interest" in the July slaying of Tullahoma, Tenn., nursing student Megan Sharpton was arrested on a gun charge after authorities searched his home in Coffee County on Thursday.

Donnie Frank Jones Jr. was arrested for being a convicted felon in possession of a rifle. The weapon was found during a search that also turned up evidence believed linked to the homicide, Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller said Friday.

Jones, 37, of 1912 Bel-Aire Drive in Tullahoma, was present during Thursday's search and was arrested about 5:30 p.m. CDT, Fuller said.

Jones is being held on $500,000 bond pending arraignment Monday, according to Capt. Frank Watkins with the sheriff's office.

The gun charge was filed in Coffee County in the 14th Judicial District. The homicide investigation is centered in Franklin County, where Sharpton's body was found, which is in District Attorney Mike Taylor's 12th Judicial District.

The burning body of Sharpton, 24, was found July 2 on Awalt Road near the bridge over Tims Ford Lake. A passing motorist had turned around after spotting what first was thought to be a grass fire.

Sharpton's 1995 Ford Mustang was discovered on Three Forks Bridge Road in Bedford County, 15 to 20 miles away, the same day her body was found.

Fuller confirmed Friday that authorities suspect Sharpton might have been sexually assaulted before she was killed. Early autopsy results indicated that she died of blunt force trauma.

Taylor and Fuller said they couldn't comment on whether the rifle was connected to Sharpton's slaying but noted that other items seized in the search have been sent to the TBI crime lab for analysis.

Taylor would not comment Friday on whether charges are pending in the homicide, but he said agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives who participated in Thursday's search could file charges against Jones.

The sheriff said Jones' bond was set at $500,000 because of the ongoing homicide investigation and Jones' criminal history, which includes charges of aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, jail escape and forgery. He said Jones doesn't work and lives with his wife, who works in the medical field.


The victim's mother, Kelly Sharpton, said her daughter was acquainted with Jones' wife and had ridden with her to nursing classes "a time or two."

She said Friday she feels the community is safer, but she also believes her daughter's killer did not act alone. She said she'll continue to press Taylor for an arrest in her daughter's death.

"If I can keep one mother from crying the tears I've cried, it'll be worth it," she said.

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TULLAHOMA, Tenn. – A man described by authorities as a suspect in the murder of nursing student Megan Sharpton is expected to appear in court Monday for a bond hearing for charges unrelated to the case.

Donnie Jones was arrested last week on unrelated weapons charges.

Jones lives with his wife and five children in Tullahoma. Franklin County Detectives searched the home of Jones on Thursday, and found him to be in possession of several firearms. Officials said during the search they also found items of interest that could be connected to the Sharpton case.

Sharpton's mother told NewsChannel 5 that Jones has ties to Megan Sharpton through his wife. She said her daughter and Naomi Jones carpooled from Tullahoma to nursing school in Murfreesboro.

Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller said he's hopeful charges will be filed soon in the Sharpton case.

The 24-year-old nursing student's partially burned body was found July 2 at the Awalt Bridge in Franklin County. Her car was found later the same day about 20 miles away. Her death was ruled a homicide and detectives said preliminary reports indicated that Sharpton died of blunt force trauma.

Sharpton's family said in September that they feared for their safety after a "person of interest" in the case threatened a family member at a Tullahoma High School football game. A few days later, the family said someone fire rounds at a realtor's sign in the front yard of a relative. No one was hurt.
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Posted: Oct 01, 2012 8:10 AM CDT
Updated: Oct 01, 2012 8:11 AM CDT

TULLAHOMA, Tenn. – A man described by authorities as a suspect in the murder of nursing student Megan Sharpton is expected to appear in court Monday for a bond hearing for charges unrelated to the case.

Donnie Jones was arrested last week on unrelated weapons charges.

Jones lives with his wife and five children in Tullahoma. Franklin County Detectives searched the home of Jones on Thursday, and found him to be in possession of several firearms. Officials said during the search they also found items of interest that could be connected to the Sharpton case.

Sharpton's mother told NewsChannel 5 that Jones has ties to Megan Sharpton through his wife. She said her daughter and Naomi Jones carpooled from Tullahoma to nursing school in Murfreesboro.

Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller said he's hopeful charges will be filed soon in the Sharpton case.

The 24-year-old nursing student's partially burned body was found July 2 at the Awalt Bridge in Franklin County. Her car was found later the same day about 20 miles away. Her death was ruled a homicide and detectives said preliminary reports indicated that Sharpton died of blunt force trauma.

Sharpton's family said in September that they feared for their safety after a "person of interest" in the case threatened a family member at a Tullahoma High School football game. A few days later, the family said someone fire rounds at a realtor's sign in the front yard of a relative. No one was hurt.

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TULLAHOMA, Tenn.- The man suspected in the murder of a young Tullahoma nursing student made his first appearance in court Monday.

37 year old Donnie Frank Jones appeared in court on Monday on a weapons charge unrelated to the murder case of Megan Sharpton. The judge appointed the public defender, and Jones asked for a fast and speedy trial.

Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller called Jones a suspect in the murder of 24 year old Megan Sharpton. Sharpton's burned body was found on the side of the road in Franklin County in July 2012. Her car was found later the same day about 20 miles away. Her death was ruled a homicide and detectives said preliminary reports indicated that Sharpton died of blunt force trauma.

Sharpton's mother, Kelly, attended Monday's hearing.

"I feel a lot better for our community that he's not out on the street. Girls are safer without him wandering freely," she said.

Jones' bond was set a half million dollars, and while that may seem excessive, investigators said he has a history of escaping from jail.

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MUST-SEE video!!

You're right, that video is sure worth watching! I'm so glad his bail was set so high. What an awful POS that man is.
I so feel for the Mother!

Did I read they don't think the killer worked alone? Why do they think that?
joan+20

I don't remember reading that.

If they think he had help, I am sure they are keeping their reasons close to the vest.

I was wrong. It was the victim's mother who doesn't believe he acted alone.

Thank you, Wrapitup. I'd really like to understand the motive the murderer and his wife could have.
joan+20

published Tuesday, October 16th, 2012

Franklin County slaying victim's mom disappointed in reduced bond

The mother of a slain 24-year-old Tullahoma, Tenn., nursing student says she still feels safe after the bond holding the man identified as a "person of interest" in her daughter's death was dropped from $500,000 to $100,000.

Kelly Sharpton, the mother of victim Megan Sharpton, expressed relief in late September when Donnie Frank Jones Jr., 37, was arrested on an unrelated charge of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm after his home was searched Sept. 27 as part of the investigation of Megan's death.

He was jailed on a $500,000 bond, but the bond was lowered during a hearing earlier this month in Coffee County General Sessions Court, where the gun charges arise.

On Monday, Sharpton said the $100,000 bond should keep Jones behind bars for the time being. She was "really disappointed" with the reduction of the bond, she said, but "we feel pretty good that he'll stay put" at the current bond.

Megan Sharpton's still-burning body was found July 2 on Awalt Road near the bridge over Tims Ford Lake after a passing motorist saw what he thought was a grass fire.

Her 1995 Ford Mustang was found on Three Forks Bridge Road in Bedford County, 15 to 20 miles away, the same day.

Authorities confirmed in September that sexual assault is suspected in the crime.

The homicide investigation is being conducted by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. Twelfth Judicial District Attorney General Mike Taylor is heading the prosecution with assistance from the TBI.

Franklin sheriff spokesman Sgt. Chris Guess said detectives are following leads in the case while they wait for the gun case in Coffee County to go to the grand jury.

Taylor said Monday that investigators still are awaiting results of TBI crime lab analysis of items seized so far.

Meanwhile, Sharpton said she's anxious for homicide charges to be filed against her daughter's killer, whoever it is.

"I know it doesn't happen like it does on TV, but sometimes I just wish it would," she said.

Megan Sharpton's 25th birthday "is coming up next week," Kelly Sharpton said. "We're hoping that will be her gift; she'll get an indictment [in her case]."

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TULLAHOMA,Tenn.---Four months after her death, the family of a murdered nursing student is hopeful answers in the case will come soon.

Megan Sharpton's partially burned body was found on July 2 in Franklin County. Her abandoned car was found 12 hours later on a rural road in Bedford County. Franklin County Sheriff's investigators have following up on leads in the case ever since, but no arrest have been made. An autopsy revealed the cause of death as blunt force trauma.

"I'm hopeful," said Kelly Sharpton, Megan's mother, "I hear a lot of rumors, but I hope they are true. It is time for some answers."

Investigators say Tullahoma resident Donnie Jones is a "person of interest" in the murder. He is being held under $100,000 bond in the Coffee County Jail on a charge of felony possession of a weapon, but he has never been charged in connection to Megan's death.

Her family has struggled through the last week which included the four month anniversary of her death, what would have been her 25th birthday, and her graduation Shelbyville Technical School. She was honored with a posthumous nursing degree.

"It was their night, but they took a moment of the evening to remember Megan," said Sharpton. "It was very touching."

Sharpton said she often turns to the garden built in her backyard in honor of Megan during tough days.

"It has been an up and down roller coaster," said Sharpton, "Some days we feel strong and want to fight, and other days we are too weak to stand."

Sharpton said nothing will bring her daughter back, but she will rest easier knowing her killer is behind bars.

"We want her memory to be one of strength and peace. She was on her way to great things. We aren't going to forget that."
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Video at link