Known for her lively and happy-go-lucky personality, Megan was also dating Chris, with whom she had an on-again, off-again relationship for three years. Chris Brown scooped two top prizes, beating the likes of Beyonce, Lizzo and Drake. Police gathered that Megan had been sexually assaulted or raped and had suffered blunt force trauma as her skull had visible dents. Hours later, Megans body was discovered burning on the side of the road. She was active in grief groups that put her in contact with grieving mothers like herself all over the world. Thats all I f--king do.. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. Al Sharpton, has pleaded guilty to multiple federal charges. We know she met with her boyfriend after speaking with her mother, but he went to work, so he has a good alibi and has been cleared by the Franklin County Sheriffs Department. Autopsy showed Sharpton died of blunt force trauma. Shelley Mooks body was never found. Did Megan know her killer? If you are intrigued to know more and want to find out where the perpetrator is today, we have got you covered. Tune into Murder Comes To Town this Friday, March 31, at 10/9 p.m. Central on Investigation Discovery. She was a compassionate, caring soul, and planned a career in nursing. Parents Kelly Hale Sharpton and Don Cornelius, Jr. Grandparents Maurice and Margaret Hale. She mattered to us all. Edit Search New Search Filters (1) To get better results, add more information such as Birth Info, Death Info and Locationeven a guess will help. 2017-2023 Tribute Archive. You have permission to edit this article. Kelly, you, by far, are at the top of that list. Megan was born on October 24, 1987 in Tullahoma, TN and died there July 2, 2012. Megan and Her Best Friend Loved Watching True Crime Shows, An Exclusive First Look into the Case of Megan Sharpton, Franklin County Sheriff Advised Detective Todd Hindman to "Take Care of Your Victim's Family", Megan Sharptons last few minutes of life was pure hell and panic and fear.. It wont make up for what Ive lost. Authorities pulled 11 or 12 surveillance videos of burner phone sales around the time of the murder, and one of them caught their eye, a man with an off demeanor who clearly already had a phone and was buying a burner phone. Moreover, Megans purse was found 5 miles away from where her body was dumped, which was then set on fire. ENJOY! Aunts Anne Hale, Laurie Weeks, and Lisa Sharpton. But there was one more thing that let Kelly Hale Sharpton know immediately that it was her missing daughter the dead woman had two star tattoos on her body. Ms. Sharpton was born in Milan, TN to Maurice and Margaret Stepp Hale. 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Megan was born on October 24, 1987 in Tullahoma, TN and died there July 2, 2012. She was born in Altoona, a daughter of Matthew and Nancy Frantz. This case is also unsolved, and in the same region as the 1999 unsolved disappearance of Kristie . Donnie initially denied contacting Megan and even denied getting a burner cell. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.tullahomafuneralhome.com. Parents Kelly Hale Sharpton and Don Cornelius, Jr. Grandparents Maurice and Margaret Hale. People who knew Megan at the steakhouse where she worked were devastated by the news. Of course, if he used lighter fluid, this would make the purchase less conspicuous. She was going to nursing school and had a really bright future. Authorities were also successful in recovering Megans car, which was found abandoned a few miles away from where her body was found. According to the Times Free Press, the pain of her daughters death was too intense. However, Chris proved to have a solid alibi during the time of the murder. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. According to the autopsy report, Megan was sexually assaulted before the murder. But while waiting to interview Chris, Bedford County personnel called detectives with a lead: theyd found Megan Sharptons vehicle parked on a country road, about 15 to 20 miles from the crime scene where her body was found in Franklin County. She has finally found the peace that was so allusive [sp] during the last sixteen months. In the months since her daughter Megan, 24, was raped and killed, her body set afire alongside Awalt Road in Franklin County, TN, the grief-stricken mother had struggled to cope. "The. Born in St. Paul on Oct. 27, 2000, and raised in Minneapolis from the time he was 7, Wright was "taken from his family and friends too soon and leaves a hole in their heart that will never be. It would be nice if I could tune in a little closer, yea, it would help a great deal. Death notices for Feb. 23. Now, with an official time of death in place, they wereable to determine through surveillance video that Chris was, in fact, working at the department store when Megan was murdered. Shine on our starry girl. Her killer was Donnie Frank Jones Jr, who was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for her rape and murder. Megan promised to be back later, while Chris went to work at a local department store from 5:00 p.m. to midnight. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. On Friday, Kelly Elizabeth Hale Sharpton took her own life in a Chattanooga hotel. Are You Eligible To Claim The IRS Savers Credit? - Click to learn more.. She was a beautiful person who spread joy and happiness wherever she went. Don't judge Kelly. She worked as a graphic designer at AEDC. We will miss her dearly and feel for her family. Megan Bratton's passing has been publicly announced by Covey, Allen & Shea Funeral & Cremation Service in Wilmington, VT.Legacy invites you to offer condolences and share memories of Megan in to burn her body with? Tullahoma Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Erika Megan Sharpton. In the beginning, the quest for justice kept Kelly Sharpton going. A celebration of her life will follow at a later date. She is preceded in death by her daughter, Megan Sharpton. However, Donnie was ultimately convicted of first-degree murder. Rachel Noerdlinger says Sharpton will fly to. By the condition of the body, it seemed that the victim had fought for her life. With her sights set on a promising career in the nursing field and with her boyfriend, Chris, at her side, it seemed she had everything going for her. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! I understand the communitys anger, but they have a different perspective, she said. can stop at any time. She was 47. "We're waiting for him to get the expert mental evaluation done," Taylor said. Megan was born on October 24, 1987 in Tullahoma, TN and died there July 2, 2012. Thats the chronology of the crime in an unfolding time lapse. Relatives werent that concerned about the sudden change of plans. Recently, Inquisitr brought you the story of Shelley Mook, a missing Shelbyville, Tennessee, mother who vanished in 2011. Her car was found the same day in another location near Three Forks Bridge. A third scenario, is that he returns to his own house (in her Mustang) and picks up an accelerant previously purchased. Megan Sharpton Death Investigation Latest | WHNT.com Huntsville News & Weather from WHNT Television News19 HD. We won't share it with anyone else. Though they couldnt trace the number back to an owner, Detective Hindman did trace the phone to a local department store where someone had purchased it. pic.twitter.com/WeN8vEqm, Tanya Reeves (@reeves_tanya) September 28, 2012, Mothers Fight To Put Killer Behind Bars Ends In Her Own Tragic Death. She was very loved by her family, her friends, and the whole community. In fact, her family had no idea what had happened to her that night. When a motorist discovered a fire in Tullahoma, Tennessee, on July 2, 2012, he immediately called it in and had first responders tend to it. It was like something youd see off a movie, George Dyer, Franklin County Sheriffs Office detective, toldAn Unexpected Killer, anOxygen series. The Great Sets Season 3 Premiere: Elle Fannning & Nicholas Hoult Return in First Look (PHOTO), Frasier: Bebe Neuwirth to Reprise Role as Lilith in Paramount+ Revival, Ed Sheeran announces only UK shows of 2023, 'I'd never wish that on anyone' The celebrities who regret their child star past, Scott Mitchell: I used to talk to Dame Barbara's illness before she died, Mrs. And the way the crime was covered up, or made to look, it would seem as if he had done this sort of thing before. When the power goes out, it affects more than just your ability to watch TV or read with the lights on. It led us to believe thered been a sexual assault, Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller told producers. There are other aspects of her case that are highly unusual, as well. Megan mentioned she would try to hook up with a possible patient (Megan was a nursing student), an elderly lady, I believe. Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller said that Donnie Jones has been arrested in connection with the case. I don`t know.. Many cousins, great aunts, and great uncles. Inside were the burnt scraps of a purple scarf with stars printed on it, later determined to be a gift to Megan from her sister, Carrie. The GPS data from the phones came back with telling results: The burner phone moved along with Donnies cell phone, and the burner was used to make contact with Megan. Megan didnt have an eye for danger. Tullahoma Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Erika Megan Sharpton. Agents from the TBI and investigators from the Franklin County Sheriff's Department spent July 4 gathering evidence in connection with the murder of 24-year-old Erika Megan Sharpton of Tullahoma, who Nieces Chloe' Taylor, Baylee Sharpton, and Lizzy Sharpton. An arrest has been made in the case of a Tullahoma nursing student whose burned body was found in July. Shine on our starry girl. Her pink purse was left in one spot, her red Mustang in another, and her burning body in yet a third location. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Kelly Elizabeth Hale Sharpton, age 47, of Tullahoma, passed away Friday, November 8, 2013 at Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga. Shine on our starry girl. Though Chris initially described a good relationship with Megan, his story soon started to unravel, and he admitted that their relationship became strained near the end. ", "As a fellow grieving mother, I understand the pain she was in. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. The location of Erika Megan Sharpton's body lies about two hours from Darden -- where Holly Bobo vanished in April of 2011. In 2012, Megan Sharpton was studying nursing and just months away from collecting her diploma. His spokeswoman says Ada Sharpton passed away early Thursday morning in Dothan, Ala., following a long battle with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Her obituary in the Tullahoma News described Sharpton as the world's "brightest star" and "a compassionate, caring soul." . But soon after making plans, Megan called to explain that a last-minute job interview had come up and that shed meet with them whenever she was able to. We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. Months after the tragedy, 37-year-old Donnie Jones Jr. was arrested and charged with first degree murder, two counts of especially aggravated kidnapping, and two counts of aggravated rape. According to her mother and sister, Meganwas due to have dinner with her family on the evening before her body was found. Ms. Sharpton was a Graphic Designer at A.E.D.C. Visitation will be Friday, July 6, 2012 from 5-8 pm. | Updated November 13, 2013 at 12:27 p.m. Megan Sharpton's accused killer, Donnie Jones Jr., 37, faced first-degree murder, kidnapping and rape charges and pleaded guilty on Feb. 4, 2013, in Franklin County Circuit Court. But then the results of the DNA collected from Megans body came back to detectives: Itwas a match to Donnie Jones. She was 47. On July 1st, Megan made plans to meet with her family for dinner, but calls to cancel after an unexpected job interview presents itself. Thats my call, and another call is that she knew her killer, if only vaguely. Tullahoma Funeral Home's online guest book was flooded with condolences from friends, co-workers and other grieving mothers who knew now that another mother, Kelly's, was grieving, too. By the spring of 2015, Jeffrey and Jeanette were mapping out their retirement, according to "Killer Couples," airing Fridays at 8/7c on Oxygen. According to Chris, Megan told him that shed accepted a job offer afriend from nursing school had recommended her for. However, her mother was always concerned for her because she was naive and too trusting. Experts fall on both sides of the fence in this matter. Most importantly, he was the husband of Naomi Jones, the former classmate of Megans. It's what society needs to do to close this and walk away.". In retaliation, Donnie allegedly used intimidation to detract attention away from him. Why was she set on fire only from her navel down to her feet? SSW winds shifting to NW at 10 to 15 mph. Jones was not charged with the murder of Megan Sharpton, however, only felon in possession of firearms. On a Saturday in late March, Kelly Sharpton was joined by friends and family members at the site where Megans body was discovered to dedicate a memorial in her daughters honor. Her mother, Kelly Hale Sharpton, was beside herself with grief. For more on this case and others like it, stream episodes of "An Unexpected Killer" here. Sharpton's 1995 Ford Mustang was found the same day on Three Forks Bridge Road in Bedford County. In a tragic story, the mother of a nursing student whose life was brutally ended last year has been found dead.24-year-old Megan Sharpton was raped and killed, her body found set on fire along a road in Franklin County last year.In the months since, 47-year-old Kelly Sharpton of Tullahoma struggled with the loss of her daughter. She mattered to us all. She was a compassionate, caring soul, and planned a career in nursing. All Rights Reserved. And you know, actually, just had that compassion for people, that trust, that love for humans. (Times Free Press) - Maybe Kelly Sharpton couldn't bear the pain any longer. Initially, the police had multiple leads in the investigation, and they even looked at Megans boyfriend as a suspect. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.tullahomafuneralhome.com. Unable to disprove this, authorities had no choice but to let Donnie walk. 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