SAVE Elwood Jones in Ohio
NEWS
CALL FOR WITNESS:
WERE YOU AT THE EMBASSY SUITES HOTEL
IN BLUE ASH, NEAR CINCINNATI, OHIO
ON 3 SEPTEMBER 1994?
HAVE YOU SEEN OR HEARD ANYTHING ON THE DAY OF
RHODA NATHAN'S MURDER?
IF SO, WE WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU.
Please contact defense attorney Erin Barnhart here
Who is Elwood Jones?
Elwood Jones had a reputation as an excellent and hard-working employee at the Embassy Suites hotel who was well liked by his coworkers. One of them was so impressed with Elwood's professionalism and effort that he still remembers speaking to his manager about him.
Elwood Jones had a reputation as an excellent and hard-working employee at the Embassy Suites hotel who was well liked by his coworkers. One of them was so impressed with Elwood's professionalism and effort that he still remembers speaking to his manager about him.
I am innocent.
I need someone (anyone) who is not afraid to stand up (...) about how the police department mishandled my case and covered up two (2) alternate suspects coming out of the victim's (Ms Nathan's) room the exact morning that she was murdered, along with a number of complaints that guests gave, who were staying in the embassy suite Hotel, describing how they saw two male suspects trying to get into their room throughout the night of 2 September 1994 and into the early morning hours of 3 September 1994.
Elwood Jones has a large and extensive family whom he loves and who has not abandoned him: a loving Mother, one uncle, 5 loyal and loving Sisters, Honorable Men whom he is proud to call his brothers, as well as a strong son and 2 wonderful Daughters whom he is immensely proud of and cherish, 2 Grand Children, 20 Nieces & Nephews, and many Great Nieces and Nephews.
It is vital that justice is done and that Elwood Jones is exonerated so that he can be reunited with his family. Nothing less than full exoneration will do. Elwood Jones does not wish to be granted clemency. He does not want to be pardoned for a crime he has not committed. He wants his name cleared and be reunited with his family.
Case summary
Elwood Jones was sentenced to death for the murder of Ms Rhoda Nathan, a 67-year-old woman who was staying as a guest at an Embassy Suites Hotel in Blue Ash, Ohio (near Cincinnati). The state alleged that E. Jones entered Ms Nathan's hotel room with a master key, then beat her to death and stole her pendant necklace.
Elwood Jones has consistently maintained his innocence for more than 20 years.
No forensic evidence ties him to the crime scene: No blood, no hair, no fingerprints, no DNA.
Here is a video presenting the prosecution's theory without presenting the case for the defence:
Elwood Jones was sentenced to death for the murder of Ms Rhoda Nathan, a 67-year-old woman who was staying as a guest at an Embassy Suites Hotel in Blue Ash, Ohio (near Cincinnati). The state alleged that E. Jones entered Ms Nathan's hotel room with a master key, then beat her to death and stole her pendant necklace.
Elwood Jones has consistently maintained his innocence for more than 20 years.
No forensic evidence ties him to the crime scene: No blood, no hair, no fingerprints, no DNA.
Here is a video presenting the prosecution's theory without presenting the case for the defence:
What Elwood Jones' legal team says in respect to the key arguments put forward by the prosecution:
Against the argument that Elwood Jones was in possession of a 'master key' which would have been able to open the door to the victim's room.
Evidence revealed that virtually anyone at the hotel, employee or guest, could obtain a master key, because if anyone lost his or her key, maintenance replaced it with a key that worked on any room.
Against the argument that the victim's pendant necklace was found in E. Jones' car
A mechanic who had worked on the car on 4 September 1994 (a day after the murder) , and thoroughly inventoried the contents of the toolbox after Ms Nathan's murder, testified that he had not seen the pendant in the toolbox, and no fingerprints or blood were found on it. (Read his testimonial at trial in file below)
| pages_from_elwood_jones_trial_transcript_-_jimmy_johnson_testimony.pdf |
Suspiciously, the pendant was only found by a sole police officer, weeks after the murder. The Hamilton County prosecutor's office waited more than a year after this discovery to indict E. Jones. Importantly, the jurisdiction that prosecuted E. Jones has proven to have in the past a troubled history of police and prosecutor misconduct.
Even the police chief itself told a newspaper, after the discovery of the pendant that the case against Jones didn't look good, stating:
We' re at a point here where we're going to find something soon or put it on shelf until someone comes forward
Against the argument that E. Jones contracted a bacterial infection in his hand from allegedly punching the victim in the mouth and knocking two of her teeth
The victim was never tested to see whether that bacteria (Eikenella Corrodens) was present in her mouth. Further, the jury was never told by the defence at trial that the victim suffered from a highly contagious Hepatitis B, which however E. Jones did not contract.
Unfortunately, despite Jones' current legal team putting forward this evidence, the court held it was now too late (procedurally barred) for it to consider the evidence.
In addition, E. Jones' legal team further points out to numerous mishandling in the cases, involving junk science, mishandling of the evidence to such a magnitude that it resulted in a prisoner being granted clemency in another case, and other issues (see summary in file below). They say:
Elwood is now actively pursuing an investigation into alternate suspects in his case.
His team is searching for evidence and witnesses. Because of the passage of time, many records have unfortunately been destroyed and some potential witnesses have passed away. For this reason, publicity about his case could help draw out someone who knows something, particularly considering that the murder took place at a hotel and guests from outside the area who might have exculpatory information might not be aware that Elwood was convicted and faces execution for this crime.
Read more case details
| 2018.06.21_elwood_jones_updated_summary_for_website.pdf |
What his supporters say:
Elwood Jones has always protested his innocence.
He can't get over the irregularities in his trial: No-one directly accused him, there were issues with the way the staff from the hotel was interviewed, he doubts of the integrity of the police officer who discovered the pendant, the fact that other people had master keys for the room.
Find out more about Elwood Jones
Elwood Jones has tried to run a positive life in prison. He has made Teddy Bears and other types of stuffed animals while at Mansfield Correctional Institution and Ohio State Penitentiary. He says:
Elwood Jones has tried to run a positive life in prison. He has made Teddy Bears and other types of stuffed animals while at Mansfield Correctional Institution and Ohio State Penitentiary. He says:
I would donate them to a Local Children's Hospital and
Elementary Schools in the Youngstown area along with Book Bags and, Christmas Stockings.
I also made Quilt Tops for The World Relief Organization and cards under the supervision of a case Manager for The Ohio State Penitentiary in Youngstown.
Write to Elwood Jones:
Elwood H. Jones JR
A339 - 441
DR-3-17-A
15802 State Route 104 N.
Chillicothe, Ohio 45601
Elwood H. Jones JR
A339 - 441
DR-3-17-A
15802 State Route 104 N.
Chillicothe, Ohio 45601
