Family of murdered Marine speaks out after non-guilty verdict

Reporter: Claire Galt Writer: Jasmine Singletary
Published: Updated:
murdered marine
Keith Jones (CREDIT: WINK News)

The family of a Marine Corps veteran murdered 25 years ago is speaking out after the non-guilty verdict on Friday.

Keith Jones was staying at the former Tides Motel in downtown Fort Myers, when four men went into his room beat, robbed, and killed him.

Michelle Ashley was accused of setting the stage for Jones’ killers. She was the only person arrested in the case and she walked free Friday night.

The family is angry with the investigators and angry that Ashley is a free woman.

The family said investigators didn’t do enough when Jones was murdered back in 1997 and they believe that if Ashley was never in the picture Jones would be alive today.

The siblings of Jones sat down together after a day in court.

Kevin said, “I didn’t want to say goodbye, I didn’t want to say bye.”

Jones’s siblings Veronica, Melissa, and Kevin are left trying to cope with the verdict.

murdered marine
Jones Family (CREDIT: WINK News)

Melissa: “She still set my brother up. And she has a lot to do with Keith being in the grave.”

Veronica: “You didn’t care if he was a marine, you did not care if he was an aspiring police officer. You didn’t even care to call the family. They failed Keith and they failed the family.”

This family has been fighting for justice since the day they laid Jones to rest.

Kevin said, “I just stood there and I was the last person to close the casket on top of him, knowing that I would never ever see him again.”

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