SAVE Elwood Jones in Ohio
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NEWS ON THE CASE OF ELWOOD JONES
October 2023
Elwood Jones closer to freedom as Ohio makes last ditch effort to revive murder case.
Read Amber Hunt’s article on Cincinnati.com here
Two key prosecution witnesses have died: The doctor who gave his opinion on the bacteria in Jones’ hand and the police officer who testified he found the victim’s pendant in a toolbox in Jones’ car.
"The documents that they withheld show that it’s not true. The pendant was not found in the toolbox," said David Hine, one of Jones’ defense attorneys. "But none of that was available to Mr. Jones in the first trial'
READ MORE ON WCBO
Two key prosecution witnesses have died: The doctor who gave his opinion on the bacteria in Jones’ hand and the police officer who testified he found the victim’s pendant in a toolbox in Jones’ car.
"The documents that they withheld show that it’s not true. The pendant was not found in the toolbox," said David Hine, one of Jones’ defense attorneys. "But none of that was available to Mr. Jones in the first trial'
READ MORE ON WCBO
ACT TO HELP SAVE ELWOOD JONES
Send an email to Hamilton County’s Prosecutor Melissa Powers and her chief assistant prosecutor Ron Springman, demanding that they do what is just by dropping the charges against Elwood.
Make sure to cc the two men responsible for this injustice, Mark Piepmeier and SethTieger. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected] [email protected]
513-946-3000
Send an email to Hamilton County’s Prosecutor Melissa Powers and her chief assistant prosecutor Ron Springman, demanding that they do what is just by dropping the charges against Elwood.
Make sure to cc the two men responsible for this injustice, Mark Piepmeier and SethTieger. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected] [email protected]
513-946-3000
JULY 2023
LISTEN TO THE WRONGFUL CONVICTION PODCASTON THE CASE OF ELWOOD JONES
March 2023
Watch Press conference with Elwood Jones and his legal team here (27 mns)
discussing how the prosecution withheld 4000 pages of exculpatory evidence at Elwood Jones' trial in 1996
More Press Coverage:
- Watch WLWT report here (2mns 23')
- Hamilton County Prosecutors lose bid to put Elwood Jones back on death row
(Amber Hunt, Cincinnati Enquirer 10th March 2023)
Watch Press conference with Elwood Jones and his legal team here (27 mns)
discussing how the prosecution withheld 4000 pages of exculpatory evidence at Elwood Jones' trial in 1996
More Press Coverage:
- Watch WLWT report here (2mns 23')
- Hamilton County Prosecutors lose bid to put Elwood Jones back on death row
(Amber Hunt, Cincinnati Enquirer 10th March 2023)
January 2023
ELWOOD JONES GRANTED A NEW TRIAL
A new trial date has been set for February 2024
THE COURT CONCLUDES:
The police investigation o f the murder of Ms. Rhoda Nathan was mishandled by the Blue Ash Police Department in 1994. By the evidence, there are many unanswered questions about the events that occurred at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Blue Ash, Ohio during the weekend when Ms. Nathanwaskilled. Unfortunately,t his mishandling resulted in the jury considering evidence based on an incomplete police investigation and flawed circumstantial evidence. Additionally, the jury did not have the benefit of considering material evidence which was known to the BAPD and the State prior to trial but not disclosed to the Defense.
When prosecutors withhold evidence that they are duty-bound to turn over, they undermine the Constitution, the Supreme Court's case law, and the premise ofjustice. Brady violations not only send potentially innocent people to prison, but they reinforce a win-at-all costs mentality that undermines the pursuit of justice.
(See full judgment below)
| 2022.12.20_ocred_decision_and_entry_granting_delayed_motion_for_new_trial.pdf |
2022
NEW PODCAST SERIES ON THE INNOCENCE CASE OF ELWOOD JONES
All episodes now with either a subscription to the Cincinnati Enquirer or USA Today newspaper or via a free 7-day trial of an app called Wondery+.
Free public access will begin February 8, with one episode being released each week.
This is a special project from The Cincinnati Enquirer, part of the USA TODAY Network
Access the Cincinnati Enquirer podcast here
Here are the links;
Episode 26 January 2022
Episode 08 February 2022
Episode 15 February 2022
Episode 22 February 2022
Episode 01 March 2022
Episode 08 March 2022
Episode15 March 2022
In an extremely rare move, the Court had granted a hearing for August 27/28, 2020 on Elwood Jones' motion for a new trial. In nearly 500 pages of arguments and supporting evidence, the new filings show why the new evidence would have made a difference in Elwood’s trial. They demonstrate in detail how the weak circumstantial case against him was largely based on evidence that just as easily could have applied to a number of hotel employees, guests, and even members of the public.
The “forensic evidence” the State offered was, in fact, junk science. And proof of Earl’s confession would have been powerful evidence to undermine the evidence against Elwood.
A number of voices are currently raising in support of Mr Jones' innocence
(Read more in updated summary below and in the most recent articles here and here)
| elwood_jones_updated_case_summary_march_2022.pdf |
n. Statement from Elwood Jones' legal team
In April of 2020, a court was scheduled to hear new evidence of Elwood Jones’s innocence, including testimony that another man confessed to both the murder that put him on death row and to framing a Black man for it.
Mr. Jones, who is Black, has consistently maintained his innocence for more than two decades, and this confession provides an explanation for the single piece of physical evidence connecting him to the murder; evidence which Mr. Jones has always insisted must have been planted. His hearing has been repeatedly postponed, however, by the on-going pandemic.
As a result, his 2021 execution date would not have permitted the meaningful consideration his case deserves. We are grateful for Governor DeWine’s decision to reprieve Mr. Jones’s execution. As soon as it can safely do so, we look forward to the court conducting this important hearing and Mr. Jones finally proving he is entitled to a new trial.
A new execution date had been set for 2023.
The investigating police department was aware that another person confessed to the crime
for which he faces execution and to framing a black man for it. Nothing indicates law enforcement ever pursued this lead, however.
Jones`s counsel also never received any disclosure regarding the alternate suspect and confession.
In summary
. On 3 September 1994, Ms Rhoda Nathan, a guest at the Embassy Suites Hotel was murdered.
. Elwood Jones, an African-American employee at the hotel was convicted and sentenced to death for that murder. No direct evidence ties him to the violent crime scene: no blood or body fluids, no hair, no fingerprints, no DNA, and no eyewitnesses.
He has always maintained his innocence and now faces execution in April 2021.
. A new witness comes forward today, allowing to establish that Earl Reed, a white man who had been accused of violence towards his wife Linda, confessed to her about the murder at the Embassy Suites Hotel and framing a black man for it.
Linda said she couldn’t report her husband’s confession to law enforcement because he was friends with several of the local Blue Ash police officers. However, whilst in jail at a time BEFORE Elwood Jones' trial, she told another woman about what Earl did, and that woman then reported Earl’s confession to the Blue Ash police.
. Instead of investigating this lead, however, the police dismissed the tip. Worse, they never disclosed this important information to Elwood or his lawyers. Elwood’s prosecution went forward and he was ultimately sentenced to death.
Read new legal summary here:
. On 3 September 1994, Ms Rhoda Nathan, a guest at the Embassy Suites Hotel was murdered.
. Elwood Jones, an African-American employee at the hotel was convicted and sentenced to death for that murder. No direct evidence ties him to the violent crime scene: no blood or body fluids, no hair, no fingerprints, no DNA, and no eyewitnesses.
He has always maintained his innocence and now faces execution in April 2021.
. A new witness comes forward today, allowing to establish that Earl Reed, a white man who had been accused of violence towards his wife Linda, confessed to her about the murder at the Embassy Suites Hotel and framing a black man for it.
Linda said she couldn’t report her husband’s confession to law enforcement because he was friends with several of the local Blue Ash police officers. However, whilst in jail at a time BEFORE Elwood Jones' trial, she told another woman about what Earl did, and that woman then reported Earl’s confession to the Blue Ash police.
. Instead of investigating this lead, however, the police dismissed the tip. Worse, they never disclosed this important information to Elwood or his lawyers. Elwood’s prosecution went forward and he was ultimately sentenced to death.
Read new legal summary here:
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Earl Reed, the man who confessed to the murder, was living only a short (about 15 mns) walk away (4 mns drive - less than a mile away)
from the Embassy Suites Hotel: 5110 Pfeiffer Road.
He had been accused of violence towards his wife Linda. He is shown here (left picture) at her funeral of his wife in 2002.
Back at the time of the murder, he would have been 66 years old. It is believed he had red hair, blue eyes, was 6ft tall and weighed 140 pounds.
Did you know Earl Reed? Please contact us.
from the Embassy Suites Hotel: 5110 Pfeiffer Road.
He had been accused of violence towards his wife Linda. He is shown here (left picture) at her funeral of his wife in 2002.
Back at the time of the murder, he would have been 66 years old. It is believed he had red hair, blue eyes, was 6ft tall and weighed 140 pounds.
Did you know Earl Reed? Please contact us.
New filed legal motions (25 February 2019)
| 2019.02.25_filed_proposed_motion_for_new_trial.pdf |
| 2019.02.25_filed_motion_for_leave.pdf |
| 2019.02.25_filed_exhibit_to_motion_for_leave.pdf |
| exs._a-d_from_2019.02.25_filed_exhibits_to_proposed_motion_for_new_trial.pdf |
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.
Elwood Jones had a reputation as an excellent and hard-working employee at the Embassy Suites hotel who was well liked by his coworkers.
Elwood Jones, was sentenced to death for the murder of Rhoda Nathan at the Embassy Suites Hotel
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.
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Elwood Jones has spent over two decades on death row for a crime in which he maintains his complete innocence.
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 Elwood 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.
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 Elwood 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.
What Elwood Jones' legal team says in respect to the key arguments put forward by the prosecution:
The circumstantial case against Elwood at trial was largely based on evidence that just as easily could have applied to a number of hotel employees, guests, and even members of the public.
For example, 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 could obtain such a key, and that hotel staff did not even know how many master or room keys were in circulation. In fact, the hotel management routinely issued Elwood and other employees in his department a master key, and many of these keys were not signed back in each day.
Two types of “forensic evidence” the State offered were, in fact, junk science.
For example, against the argument that Elwood 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.
Proof of Earl’s confession would have been powerful evidence to undermine the State’s argument that an officer said he found a pendant, similar to one the victim wore, in a toolbox in Elwood's 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 |
. After the car was impounded, it sat for nearly two days in the police station with the keys left unattended in a nearby desk before it was searched.
. Earl Reed's confession to framing a black man for his crime thus explains how a murderer with friends on the police force could have planted the pendant in
Elwood's car while it was at the station.
. Suspiciously, the Hamilton County prosecutor's office waited more than a year after the discovery of the pendant to indict Elwood Jones. Importantly, the
jurisdiction that prosecuted Elwood Jones has proven to have in the past a troubled history of police and prosecutor misconduct.
. Even the police chief himself told a newspaper, after the discovery of the pendant that the case against Jones "doesn't look good," stating:
. Earl Reed's confession to framing a black man for his crime thus explains how a murderer with friends on the police force could have planted the pendant in
Elwood's car while it was at the station.
. Suspiciously, the Hamilton County prosecutor's office waited more than a year after the discovery of the pendant to indict Elwood Jones. Importantly, the
jurisdiction that prosecuted Elwood Jones has proven to have in the past a troubled history of police and prosecutor misconduct.
. Even the police chief himself told a newspaper, after the discovery of the pendant that the case against Jones "doesn'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
No new credible evidence of Elwood's guilt developed after that, yet he was still prosecuted and sentenced to death.
In addition, Elwood Jones' legal team further points out to numerous other issues (see summary in file). 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.
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.
News
Ohio Governor DeWine delays three prisoner executions including man convicted of Blue Ash killing
by Chris Mayhew, Cincinnati Inquirer
Death row inmate Elwood Jones fight for a new trial, by Amber Hunt, Cincinnati Inquirer, 9 January 2021
One man's plea for justice, by Jennifer Warner, The Communitarian, November 23, 2020
Ohio Governor DeWine delays three prisoner executions including man convicted of Blue Ash killing
by Chris Mayhew, Cincinnati Inquirer
Death row inmate Elwood Jones fight for a new trial, by Amber Hunt, Cincinnati Inquirer, 9 January 2021
One man's plea for justice, by Jennifer Warner, The Communitarian, November 23, 2020
Read more on Local12
Hearing date set for possible retrial in local man's death row case, WKRC, 11 December 2019
Killer or innocent man? Inmate son death row for 20 years gets hearing on new evidence, WKRC, 7 December 2019
Ohio death row inmate granted hearing consider new trial in 1994 slaying, Amber Hunt, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 December 2006
'Prosecutors say he is a killer; his lawyers say he was framed', by Amber Hunt, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 June 2018
Hearing date set for possible retrial in local man's death row case, WKRC, 11 December 2019
Killer or innocent man? Inmate son death row for 20 years gets hearing on new evidence, WKRC, 7 December 2019
Ohio death row inmate granted hearing consider new trial in 1994 slaying, Amber Hunt, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 December 2006
'Prosecutors say he is a killer; his lawyers say he was framed', by Amber Hunt, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 June 2018
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
