Kei’Mani Latigue was simply days away from turning 14 years previous when she disappeared from her Toledo, Ohio dwelling. The local people was devastated by her March 18 disappearance, and her father, Darnell Jones, even spoke to the information detailing the final time he noticed her. Then, he went on the run.
A warrant was first issued for Jones’ arrest on suspicion of abduction on March 23, in keeping with police. However the next day, Latigue was discovered useless in a burned, vacant dwelling. This led authorities to up the fees in opposition to Jones to homicide, in keeping with WTVG, however first they needed to discover him.
Earlier than his daughter’s physique was found, Jones— who additionally goes by the title Darnell Jerome Ogletree— spoke to WTVG detailing the final time he claimed he noticed her. “I came visiting right here as a result of she stated that it appeared like someone was attempting to interrupt into the home,” Jones stated of his daughter’s disappearance. The teenager reportedly lived along with her grandmother on the time of her disappearance. “Me and my cousin sat over right here for an hour and we left round 12:30-ish,” he continued.
Jones’ abduction warrant, obtained by PEOPLE, claimed he was the final individual seen with Latigue. And after the daddy gave “inconsistent statements about his exercise with the sufferer, and their whereabouts,” he turned a chief suspect, in keeping with the warrant. The subsequent day, police made an unthinkable discovery.
On March 24, the lady’s mom, Tiara Kasten, got here to the scene of a burned, deserted home earlier than the coroner confirmed a physique positioned on the second flooring belonged to Latigue. “I simply wish to know if it’s my child. They’re nonetheless not telling me nothing,” Kasten informed WTVG. Her mom insisted there was no motive for Latigue to be within the space of the home.
Officers later confirmed the physique belonged to the teenager, and an post-mortem report quickly revealed the grotesque particulars of her demise. Police Lieutenant Brian Metal stated Latigue was raped, had her fingers minimize off and her throat almost minimize off in some of the horrific circumstances he’d heard of. The motive behind the surprising homicide continues to be underneath investigation.
With all eyes then targeted on the lady’s father because the prime homicide suspect, officers started surveillance on Jones. On Tuesday (March 25), the 33-year-old was noticed in Columbus, Ohio, hours away from the burned home. SWAT officers confronted Jones on the road, and that’s when a possible trigger affidavit, obtained by USA TODAY, stated Jones pulled out a gun and shot at them. Through the confrontation between him and the officers, Jones was shot a number of occasions.
He was rushed to a close-by hospital and stays in steady situation. Now, Jones is dealing with new costs and is predicted seem earlier than a decide on Wednesday (March 26), in keeping with WTVG.
A spokesperson for Spring Elementary College, the varsity Latigue attended, stated she was set to obtain a kindness award this week. Her 14th birthday can be Friday (March 28). The household asks all donations within the teen’s honor to be made to the Brown Legacy Memorial funeral dwelling in Toledo.