Murder Suspect Returned To Tennessee

Huntsville, TN (2012-05-31) The man accused of gunning down the director of the local homeless shelter has waived extradition in Alabama and has been returned to Scott County to face murder charges.

Josiah S. Jones, 29, of Helenwood, the lone suspect in the shooting and death of 58-year-old Jerry Voiles at the Scott County Homeless Shelter and Food Pantry in the Capital Hill community on Tuesday morning, was returned to Tennessee on Thursday. Detective Tommy Silcox of the Scott County Sheriff’s Department and an Agent from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation reportedly transported Jones from the Cleburne County Jail in Heflin, AL back to Scott County on Thursday. Jones had been incarcerated in the Alabama facility following his arrest Tuesday evening by an Alabama State Trooper, who found Jones stopped along I-20 near Anniston, AL on the Alabama / Georgia line. The trooper reportedly stopped to help Jones, who had ran out of gas; but, later found he was wanted in Tennessee for murder.

Jones is accused of walking into the Scott County Homeless Shelter shortly after 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday and firing a single blast from a shotgun that struck Voiles in the upper torso-killing him almost instantly.

After the shooting, Jones reportedly fled the scene in a white Ford pickup owned by Eunice P. Neal of Helenwood. According to the arrest warrant, Jones drove from the shelter to his father’s home in Helenwood, where he ditched the truck and the shotgun allegedly used in the shooting. Jones then got into another truck with his father, identified as Gary Jones, and left the residence. The pair was reportedly on I-75 near Exit 122, when law enforcement official reportedly contacted the elder Jones by phone, requesting him to return to Scott County with his son. The suspect reportedly informed his father, “(I) killed a man this morning”, left him on the side of the road, and then took off in his father’s vehicle.

Jones eluded East Tennessee authorities, leading the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to add him to its Top Ten Most Wanted List Tuesday afternoon. Several hours later, Jones was apprehended in Alabama.

Jones, who has a criminal history dating back to 2002, reportedly had taken anger management classes about two years ago. Voiles was reportedly the instructor of those classes, and, as result, authorities speculate he disliked Voiles because of them.

Jones has been charged with first degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In the warrant, authorities assert Jones’ action was premeditated and deliberate. His bond has been set at $1 million.

Jones is scheduled to be arraigned in Scott County General Sessions Court on Friday morning at 9:00 a.m. at the Scott County Justice Center in Huntsville.