PHOENIX — A man has been indicted after allegedly murdering and disposing of his girlfriend's body.
A Maricopa County Grand jury indicted Jamal Lamar Jones, 28, last week for murder and concealment of a dead body.
Police were contacted on September 20 after an apartment manager entered an apartment belonging to Luzeia Mathis, near 35th Avenue and Indian School Road, to evict her for non-payment.
Inside, the manager found "a large amount of blood throughout the apartment." Police say they found blood-stained pillows, multiple cleaning products, burnt incense in the vents, and a mattress that appeared to be spray-painted to hide the bloodstains.
Police also allegedly found an order of protection listing Jones as the defendant. Police say they had multiple domestic violence calls related to Jones.
According to court records, Mathis' car was found abandoned in central Phoenix. Inside the trunk of the vehicle, police reportedly found evidence of blood and the scent of a decomposing body. They also allegedly found a shovel and chlorine inside the car.
Detectives discovered that the shovel was a specific brand sold by Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart investigators searched for a shovel and chlorine purchased together and determined that Jamal Jones purchased the items. Court records show that the surveillance video shows Jones driving the victim's car and purchasing the items on September 16.
Jones was located and arrested on November 26.
If you or someone you know is the victim of domestic or sexual violence, there are several local and national organizations offering resources. Anyone in need of immediate assistance should contact either the Maricopa County Shelter Line at 480-890-3039, the National 24-Hour Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), or the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence at 602-279-2900. A number of organizations are available 24 hours a day for anyone at risk of experiencing domestic or sexual violence. See a directory of domestic violence programs here.
