Megan Sharpton -- Found Deceased 7/2/12

Erika Megan Sharpton…….Found Murdered July 2…..She Needs Justice

by niecey456 on July 14, 2012

Erika Megan Sharpton’s body was found burning by the side of the road on July 2, 2012. Her cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. She was called by her middle name, Megan. Megan was 24 years old and had planned a career in nursing. She was in her family’s words the world’s brightest star. She was compassionate and loving and very loved.

Read more: http://niecey456.com/2012/07/14/erika-megan-sharpton-found-murdered-july-2-she-needs-justice/

Burned body found in Franklin County identified

Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012
by Ben Benton



~Snipped~

Her body was found by a motorist who had spotted what they thought to be a grass fire, but when the driver turned around to check it out, the body was still burning and surrounding by flaming grass, Guess said.

The body was in a grassy area near a narrow pull-off on the north side of Awalt Road near the west end of the bridge, he said.

Read more: http://timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jul/03/burned-body-franklin-county-identified/

Police work continues in murder of Megan Sharpton

Posted on Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at 3:27 pm

~Snipped~

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.”

Read more: http://www.tullahomanews.com/?p=6164

Megan Sharpton’s Family Raising Money For Reward Funds

Posted on Thursday, July 12, 2012 at 4:47 pm

~Snipped~

A passing driver discovered her burning body off Awalt Road in Franklin County in 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 county Megan was killed by “blunt force trauma,” according to the preliminary autopsy report. The completed report should be available in a few weeks.

Read more: http://www.heraldchronicle.com/?p=2665

WOW! Just found out that Megan was the cousin of a good friend of mine. Since Facebook changed the way we all get news feed info now, I hadn't seen a post from my friend about this until just a few minutes ago. She's posting updates frequently, so I'll check in with her posts to learn the latest.

Please keep the Sharpton family in your prayers; my friend is a beautiful, strong person who has already endured and overcome a LOT in her own life, but this is a burden that no one should have to bear.

God bless the driver that found Megan for not just driving on and calling it in (he cared enough about something amiss to turn around and check it out), and God bless the investigators and community with the tools and tips to bring Megan's killer to justice.

Justice4all, Thank you for sharing Megan's story. A reward is being raised. It was at $10,000 yesterday, but the amount is still climbing. Megan's family lost track of her about 7pm on Sunday, July 1 and her body was found about 1am on Monday July 2, so there is about a 6 hour window there that the killer murdered her and scattered her belongings. Her car was found 30 miles from her body. Her purse and other belongings were found in a creek about 1/2 way in between. I have the reward poster.

Thanks for giving us an update Niecey. I hope there is a break in this case soon so the killer can be brought to justice before he strikes again.

It would seem the killer wanted the body to be found.. but why?

Megan Sharpton Death Investigation Latest

July 19, 2012
David Wood

~Snipped~

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.”

Read more: http://whnt.com/2012/07/19/megan-sharpton-death-investigation-latest/

Tonight on Nancy Grace
Who killed nursing student, 24?

A 24-year-old nursing student found beaten to death, set on fire, and dumped in a grassy area off the side of a road. Investigators discover her Ford Mustang abandoned nearly 18 miles away from where her body was found. Who murdered beautiful young nursing student Erika Sharpton?

http://www.hlntv.com/shows/nancy-grace/

Up thread, it has been stated the car was found 30 miles away, and in a more recent comment 18 miles away. Anyone know which is the most accurate distance?

Marica wrote:Up thread, it has been stated the car was found 30 miles away, and in a more recent comment 18 miles away. Anyone know which is the most accurate distance?

I'm not sure which distance if more accurate. I've been working on a map based on descriptions from news articles, but I need more details to get the map accurate. My map has her car being found 22.5 miles from her body. If anybody has any details that can make the map more accurate, please let me know.


View Megan Sharpton in a larger map

Mom of murdered young nursing student speaks

By HLNtv.com Staff

updated 8:56 PM EDT, Mon July 23, 2012

•24-year-old nursing student found dead on roadside
•Police say her cause of death was blunt force trauma
•Investigators are searching for Megan Sharpton’s killer

J4A,

This article states that Megan's car was found about 20 miles away from where her body was found.

"A driver discovered the burning body of the 23-year-old Sharpton early July 2 at the Awalt Bridge in Franklin County. Her car was found later the same day about 20 miles away."

http://www.wsmv.com/story/19042652/reward-fund-set-up-in-womans-death

I'm still not sure exactly where to put the car on the map. One article said the car was found near Three Forks Bridge which is where I put it on my map, and the map on the video clip you posted from NG showed the car as 16 miles away.

@ J4A... Is there a "Three Forks Bridge"
AND a Three Forks Bridge Road?

I am thinking I read the location was
Three Forks Bridge Road.

Does this help?

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.

http://timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jul/10/chattanooga-woman-died-of-blunt-force-trauma/

Nursing student found burned, dead on road

By HLNtv.com Staff
updated 8:51 PM EDT, Mon July 23, 2012

•24-year-old nursing student found dead on roadside
•Police say her cause of death was blunt force trauma
•Investigators are searching for Megan Sharpton’s killer

This one says the car was found SE of Shelbyville.

Sharpton's red 1995 Ford Mustang was found later the same day on Three Forks Bridge Road southeast of Shelbyville, Tenn., in Bedford County, 15 to 20 miles from where her body was found, according to Franklin County Sheriff's Office investigator Sgt. Chris Guess.

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jul/17/chattanooga-slain-womans-kin-set-up-reward-fund/

Marica wrote:@ J4A... Is there a "Three Forks Bridge"
AND a Three Forks Bridge Road?

I am thinking I read the location was
Three Forks Bridge Road.

Three Forks Bridge Road begins at the bridge and goes south.

Julie wrote:Does this help?

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.

http://timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jul/10/chattanooga-woman-died-of-blunt-force-trauma/

Thanks. This is one of the better descriptions. The point near the bridge seems to be the closest to Highway 64.

I watched NG and at various points in the show, they mentioned 15, 16, and 18 miles between where Megan was found and where her car was found. I measured the distance on the map I created in a straight line and it is about 15.5 miles, so I might not be too far off. The 22.5 miles I came up with earlier was driving distance. I'm still not sure if the location of her purse is right though.

Thx J4A... It is so hard to figure these things out when one is not at all familiar with an area. I don't know how yo figure these things out. I look at maps and become thoroughly confused. My map reading skills are limited to any map being present with the top being North.. anymore ya never know ...

Investigators Get New Lead in Murder Case

Posted: Aug 11, 2012 10:15 PM CDT
Updated: Aug 11, 2012 10:16 PM CDT


Megan Sharpton

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Tenn.- Franklin County deputies may have made a break in the case of a 24-year-old murder victim.

Investigators told NewsChannel5 they've found "interesting evidence" on Friday regarding the murder of Megan Sharpton.

http://www.newschannel5.com/story/19255872/investigators-get-lead-in-murder-case

Praying the murderer is found and held
accountable to the maximum.

Investigators Close To Arrest In Nursing Student’s Murder

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.

http://www.newschannel5.com/story/19288325/arrest-made-in-nursing-students-murder

Just read that the local authorities are being assisted by two other LE agencies. It did not say if the agencies were local or state/federal.

Alessandra & Marica - this is great news! Thank you for your updates.

Probe into student's death winds on

Published 8:18 a.m., Monday, September 3, 2012

TULLAHOMA, Tenn. (AP) — 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.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Probe-into-student-s-death-winds-on-3836207.php#ixzz25WIZSHjT

Murder victim's mom pleads for help

Posted: Sep 10, 2012 4:31 PM CDT
Updated: Sep 10, 2012 4:50 PM CDT
By Kimberly Barbour, Reporter

(VIDEO)

FRANKLIN COUNTY, TN. (WRCB) - The mother of a murdered Franklin County woman is pleading for help from a district attorney in our area to get the man she thinks is responsible behind bars.

The body 24-year-old nursing student Megan Sharpton was found beaten and burning. She was found along a roadside in Bedford County in July. The Franklin County Sheriff's Office is investigating her murder.

The district attorney on the case is Mike Taylor, who serves Franklin, as well as Bledsoe, Grundy, Rhea, Marion, and Sequatchie counties. Megan's mom, Kelly Sharpton, is pleading with him to make some moves in the case out of fear for her families safety, as well as other girls in the region she worries could be next.

http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/19505843/murder-victims-mom-pleas-for-help

Megan Sharpton Murder Update: Arrests May Be Near

Posted on: 5:49 pm, September 11, 2012,
updated on: 06:20pm, September 11, 2012
By David Wood

(VIDEO)

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.

Read more:

http://whnt.com/2012/09/11/megan-sharpton-murder-update-arrests-may-be-near/

Bullets Shot Into The Home Of Murder Victim’s Family

Posted: Sep 12, 2012 7:47 PM CDT
Updated: Sep 12, 2012 7:48 PM 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 News Channel 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.

~Snipped~

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.

http://www.newschannel5.com/story/19529790/bullets-shot-into-the-home-of-murder-victims-family

WHAT THE HELL will it take to get the suspects off the streets?

Fearful mother of slaying victim calls for arrest

Published Friday, September 14th, 2012
By Ben Benton

The admittedly "hysterical mother" of a slain Tullahoma, Tenn., nursing student said she can't understand why the man she believes killed her daughter is walking free.

And recent incidents involving that man and members of her family have put them in fear for their lives, Kelly Sharpton said.

Sharpton said she knows she and 12th Judicial District Attorney General Mike Taylor, who is the lead prosecutor in the case of the July 2 killing of Erika Megan Sharpton, are on the same team. She can't understand, though, why the man she suspects can continue to "terrorize" her family.

"I know he wants an airtight case," Sharpton said of Taylor. "If we can go with what we have, then what the hell are we waiting on?"

Read more:

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/sep/14/fearful-mother-of-slaying-victim-calls-for/

Megan Sharpton's mother begs for DA to make arrest

By: Shea Allen
Email: sallen@waaytv.com
Last Update: 7:30 pm


TULLAHOMA, Tenn. (WAAY) - Its been nearly three months since the body of 24 year old Megan Sharpton was discovered, still burning, on the side of a country road in Franklin County, Tennessee. For Megan's mother, Kelly Sharpton, the past three months have been a never ending nightmare.

"The hole that is left in your heart is unfillable. It's endless," says Sharpton.

Sharpton says her daughter was lured to a phony job interview for a home health aid. She says her daughter was excited about the opportunity. But instead of the job Megan was dreaming of, Sharpton says her daughter was raped repeatedly, beaten to death and then set on fire. Autopsy results show Megan died of blunt force trauma to the head.

Megan's mother says her grief will never end. But she says the pain is made worse knowing the man she believes is responsible, is free to roam the streets of her community. She says despite a mountain of evidence, the Franklin County District Attorney has yet to file charges.

Read more:

http://www.waaytv.com/news/local/story/megan-sharpton-franklin-county-burning-body-murder/IPH2a_UDDkGTAO3h-rTXrQ.cspx

Arrest Made In Tullahoma Nursing Student's Murder

Posted: Sep 27, 2012 1:42 PM CDT
Updated: Sep 28, 2012 5:44 AM CDT

(VIDEO)

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

Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller said that Donnie Jones was not charged with the murder of Megan Sharpton, however, he was charged with felon in possession of firearms.

Investigators spent the day Thursday, searching Jones' home on Bellaire Drive in connection with the case. Sheriff Fuller described the items they found as "evidence of interest" in connection to Megan Sharpton's murder.

Read more:

http://www.newschannel5.com/story/19657596/arrest-made-in-tullahoma-nursing-students-murder

________

Victim’s Mother Speaks After Arrest Made In Tullahoma Murder

Posted: Sep 28, 2012 5:21 PM CDT
Updated: Oct 01, 2012 8:08 AM CDT

(VIDEO)


Kelly Sharpton

TULLAHOMA, Tenn.- The mother of a Tullahoma nursing student who was murdered has spoken out now that an arrest has been made in her daughter's case.

On Thursday, Franklin County Officials arrested 38-year-old Donnie Jones in connection with Megan Sharpton's murder. Jones was not charged with murder however, but with felon in possession of firearms.

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.

Read more:

http://www.newschannel5.com/story/19669958/victims-mother-speaks-after-arrest-made-in-tullahoma-murder

________

Bond Hearing For Man Arrested In Connection With Murder

Posted: Oct 01, 2012 8:10 AM CDT
Updated: Oct 01, 2012 8:11 AM CDT


Donnie Jones

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.

Read more:

http://www.newschannel5.com/story/19682384/bond-hearing-for-man-arrested-in-connection-with-murder

Person Of Interest In Nursing Student's Murder In Court

Posted: Oct 01, 2012 2:54 PM CDT
Updated: Oct 02, 2012 5:56 AM CDT

(VIDEO)

TULLAHOMA, Tenn. - The man considered a person of interest 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.

Read more:

http://www.newschannel5.com/story/19686936/person-of-interest-in-nursing-students-murder-in-court

New Information Could Come Soon in Case of Murdered Nursing Student

Posted: Nov 02, 2012 9:34 PM CDT Updated: Nov 02, 2012 9:56 PM CDT

by Emily Luxen

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."

Read more:
http://www.newschannel5.com/story/19991408/new-information-could-come-soon-in-case-of-murdered-nursing-student

Man Charged With Murder Of Tullahoma Nursing Student

Posted: Nov 06, 2012 8:38 AM CST
Updated: Nov 06, 2012 10:13 AM CST



FRANKLIN COUNTY, Tenn. – A man has been charged in the murder of a Tullahoma nursing student.

Authorities said 37-year-old Donnie Frank Jones, Jr. was indicted Monday afternoon by the Franklin County Grand Jury in the death of 24-year-old Megan Sharpton.



The indictment included charges of first degree murder, premeditated murder, and aggravated robbery.

He was transferred from the Coffee County jail to the Franklin County jail, where he will be held without bond until a hearing on Friday.

Read more:

http://www.newschannel5.com/story/20014641/new-details-could-be-released-in-nursing-students-murder

Man arrested in kidnapping, slaying case in Franklin County

published Tuesday, November 6th, 2012

Donnie Frank Jones Jr., 37, faces charges of first degree murder, felony murder, two counts of especially aggravated kidnapping and two counts of aggravated rape, according to Franklin County Sheriff's Office. He remains in the Franklin County Jail without bond until his first appearance scheduled at 9 a.m. Nov. 16 in Franklin County Circuit Court.
Photo by Contributed Photo /Chattanooga Times Free Press

A Franklin County Grand Jury indicted a 37-year-old Tullahoma man in connection to the slaying of Erika Megan Sharpton, said Franklin County Sheriff Sgt. Chris Guess in a released statement.

Donnie Frank Jones, Jr. was arrested after a four-month investigation by Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation investigators. He was taken into custody in Coffee County. A grand jury indicted him Monday.

Sharpton’s body was found burning on Awalt Road near the bridge over Tims Ford Lake at about 1 a.m. CDT on July 2 by a passing motorist. Initially, the motorist thought the fire was just a grass fire.

Read more:

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/nov/06/man-arrested-kidnapping-slaying-case-franklin-coun/

Suspect Charged in Death of Megan Sharpton

Posted on: 4:32 pm, November 6, 2012, by David Wood, updated on: 05:42pm, November 6, 2012

Video:

http://whnt.com/2012/11/06/suspect-charged-in-death-of-megan-sharpton/

Tragedy strikes local family again

Posted on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at 4:05 pm

Andrea Agardy
STAFF WRITER


Kelly Sharpton of Tullahoma, the mother of murder victim Megan Sharpton, meets with reporters outside the Coffee County Justice Center in Manchester in October 2012.

Tragedy has hit a local family for the second time in as many years.

Kelly Elizabeth Hale Sharpton, of Tullahoma, died Friday, Nov. 8, at Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga. She was 47 years old.

Messages left for the Chattanooga Police Department seeking additional information on Kelly Sharpton’s death were not returned by press time.

Kelly Sharpton was the mother of Megan Sharpton, whose burned body was found July 2, 2012, at Awalt Road in Franklin County.

In February, Donnie Jones Jr. pleaded guilty to raping and murdering Megan, a 24-year-old Tullahoma nursing student and was sentenced to life in state prison without parole.

In an interview with The News last fall, prior to Jones’ arrest and conviction, Kelly Sharpton said she understood the public’s frustration with the amount of time it took law enforcement authorities to arrest Jones, but said she was confident the case was being handled properly.

Read more:

http://www.tullahomanews.com/?p=19834

Moving topic from Unsolved Homicides to Closed.