Donnie Jones
The bond for Donnie Jones was lowered from $500,000 to $100,000 Friday morning by Coffee County General session Judge Tim Brock. The lowering came after testimony was presented by Franklin County sheriff’s investigator Todd Hindman about finding a rifle in Jones possession during a recent search of Jones residence. Jones is a possible suspect in the murder 24-year-old nursing student Meagan Shapton of Tullahoma. Her body was found in the early morning hours of July 2 on the side of Awalt Road in Franklin County. Her vehicle was found later that day sitting in the middle of Three Forks Bridge Road in Bedford County. Jones is a convicted felon and not allowed by law to possess a weapon. Assistant District Attorney Emily Roberts called Jones a career criminal, a flight risk and a danger to the community. She said that he has convictions of burglary, attempted kidnapping, forgery and escape. Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller told of Jones escaping from the Franklin County Jail and faking his own death.
