WilsonTimes.com - 8-year-old stabbing death still a mystery

Sunday, February 27, 2011 11:35 PM

8-year-old stabbing death still a mystery

By Gina Childress | Times Staff Writer

Eight years later, police are still investigating the murder of 21-year-old Mark Joseph Jones who was stabbed to death in 2003.

Even though investigators with the Wilson Police Department had some leads and descriptions of several persons of interest, there has never been an arrest.

Jones was found in the 800 block of Gay Street at 12:15 a.m. on April 17 by police. When authorities arrived on the scene, they found Jones suffering from "several stab wounds about his upper body." He was transported to Wilson Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

The stab wounds were the only injuries Jones sustained. He died before they could obtain any information from him.

Investigators at the time said there was no evidence Jones was involved in a fight and they believe he was attacked in the street but was able to make his way to a house on Gay Street for help.

In the days following the murder, investigators released descriptions of two people they felt were persons of interest based upon leads they received.

One person they sought was "a short male that was accompanied by an individual dressed in female clothing." The person dressed in female clothing was possibly wearing a dark-colored mini-skirt and carrying a large, black pocketbook.

The second person investigators wanted to interview was a Hispanic male who police believe was the last person to see Jones prior to the stabbing.

The Hispanic male was thought to be in his 30s and witnesses say he was about 5 feet 5 inches tall. He was medium build with a "pot belly" and had short- to medium-length black hair.

He was last seen wearing a red and blue shirt, dark jeans and a dark-colored baseball cap. He was last seen in the area of Pender and Gay streets.

The Hispanic male was able to speak English but did so with a thick accent, police said.

Anyone who may have knowledge or information about the murder is asked to contact the Wilson Police Department at 399-2323 or Crime Stoppers at 243-2255.

gina@wilsontimes.com | 265-7821

The Wilson Times has partnered with the Wilson Police Department profiling a series of unsolved murders dating back to 1997 and leading up to the present time. This series, "Cold Case Files," will feature one case a week until the end of April. Investigators hope by bringing attention to these cases once again, they may be able to bring closure to a family.