An Indiana woman has been charged with murder after allegedly conspiring to kill the husband of her mother – who was also found dead months later.
Ashley Jones, 29, was arrested on Wednesday on charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder and burglary, in relation to the death of Harold Allen in December last year.
In September, Ms Jones’ mother, Marsha Allen, reported to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department that her home had been burglarized. According to an affidavit of probable cause reviewed by Fox News Digital, jewelry and guns were stolen during the break-in.
Officers determined that two men – named as Steven White and Nathaniel Kane Napier by Jackson County Sheriff’s Department – had committed the burglary with the help of Ms Jones.
Mr White and Mr Napier were both charged with burglary of a dwelling, conspiracy to commit burglary of a dwelling and theft with a firearm, according to Fox News.
During the burglary investigation, law enforcement officers examined Ms Allen’s phone and found text messages from last December between mother and daughter in which they discussed murdering her husband, Mr Allen, by poisoning him.
Mr Allen, who is not related to Ms Jones, “passed away suddenly” on 20 December 2022, according to his obituary.
Following the discoveries made during the initial burglary investigation, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Ms Allen’s home soon and seized additional electronic devices in relation to the murder inquiry. Officers spoke with Ms Allen, but she was later released and the investigation was ongoing.
Last week, relatives of Marsha Allen reported to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department that they had been unable to reach her. Ms Allen was found dead in her home, according to a Jackson County official.
The department said that no signs of violence had been discovered, but did not elaborate on a possible cause of death.
After her mother’s death, law enforcement spoke to Ms Jones, who confessed to purchasing ethylene glycol – an industrial compound found in antifreeze, brake fluids, solvents, paints, plastics, some cosmetics and some inks – online.
However, Ms Jones claimed that it was her mother who had put the poison into Mr Allen’s drink, according to the sheriff’s department.
Ms Jones was charged with murder, conspiracy to murder and attempted murder in relation to Mr Allen’s death, and burglary, a spokesman for the department said. She is currently listed as an inmate at the Jackson County jail, in Indiana.
The investigation is ongoing.
