Teen accused of giving boyfriend 5 hours to kill his mother before doing it herself pleads not guilty

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG/Gray News) – A teenager in Ohio has pleaded not guilty to the alleged killing of her 33-year-old boyfriend’s mother after he did not kill her himself.

Kaitlyn Coones, 17, is accused of murdering Nicole Jones, 53, by bludgeoning her with a rock and strangling her in May 2023.

Police said Coones allegedly gave her boyfriend, Jonathan Jones, an ultimatum to kill his mother within five hours, or else she would do it herself. When he did not kill his mother within five hours, police said Coones did it herself.

Coones pleaded not guilty in court on Wednesday to a slew of charges, including aggravated murder, murder, abuse of a corpse, felonious assault and tampering with evidence.

A judge set Coones’ bond at $1.75 million. The courts are treating the 17-year-old as an adult in the case.

Jonathon Jones is also facing charges in his mother’s death, as authorities say he worked together with Coones to dispose of Nicole Jones’ body.

At the time of the murder, police said Coones was in foster care and living at a group home. Officers said Coones texted a nurse at the group home, saying she killed someone and was on the run.

Prosecutors say Coones gave her boyfriend an ultimatum to kill his mother within five hours because she was interfering in their relationship.

When the time frame passed, Coones allegedly approached Nicole Jones in the kitchen of her home in Sylvania Township, bludgeoned her with a rock and strangled her.

Police said Jonathan Jones was allegedly in the living room at the time of the murder.

Detectives testified that Coones and Jonathan Jones drove to two stores and bought a tarp and trash bags to wrap the body in and clean the kitchen.

They allegedly drove to a nearby apartment complex and dumped Nicole Jones’ body in a dumpster. Police do not believe her body will ever be recovered.

The two suspects then fled to Mexico. At the time, authorities asked the public for help locating the two, initially believing Coones was a kidnapping victim. Authorities eventually located the two in Mexico and arrested them both.

Detectives said the teen gave detailed statements and admitted to killing Nicole Jones during an interview with FBI agents. The Prosecutor said GPS devices tracked Jonathan Jones to the stores and the dumpster where the body was placed.

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