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photo by Steve VanGunda
Jason Hennington and Demetrius Nelson of Jason’s Body shop, help with the recovery of a Honda Civic on Carthage Point Road Thursday afternoon. The car belonged to Ms. Mary Jones, who’s body was found in the Mississippi River in mid April of this year.
Jones’ car found
Published Tuesday, June 10, 2008
NATCHEZ — In mid-April a mysterious road trip came to an end on a flooded stretch of Carthage Point Road.
The vehicle used on that trip was recovered Monday in what is now just a muddy stretch of the same road.
The vehicle belonged to Mary Jones, the woman found floating in the Mississippi River on April 19.
For weeks the vehicle had been submerged in the river’s floodwaters.
On Monday river water was still dripping from the tailpipe.
Photo by Steve VanGunda
Major Jody Waldrop of the Adams County Sheriffs Office oversees the recovery of a vehicle belonging to the woman found in the Mississippi River mid April of this year.
Adams County Sheriff’s Deputy Maj. Jody Waldrop said exactly why Jones came to Natchez is still unknown.
But before arriving in Natchez Jones had been busy on the road.
Waldrop said credit card records and license plate information showed she had been driving across the country.
“We’re not sure what she was doing,” he said. “She drove from the east coast to the Southwest desert.”
Waldrop said Jones was known to be mentally ill and her family reported she had not been taking her medication.
Waldrop said deputies patrolling the area originally discovered the vehicle a few weeks ago.
However since much of the road was flooded, and too muddy to drive on, the vehicle could not be recovered until Monday.
Waldrop said the location of the vehicle was not made public because investigators did not want people traveling to the vehicle.
“It still needs to be processed for evidence,” Waldrop said.
After Jones’ body was found off Carthage Point Road investigators began the process of identiication.
Jones was not positively identified until last week.
However what Jones was doing in the Natchez area or the exact circumstances surrounding her death are not clear.
Jones was not reported missing by her family from Markham, Ill., until March 26.
Her car was found on Carthage Point Road more than eight miles from where the road turns to gravel.
Jones’ car was found with the keys in the ignition and all four widows rolled down.
For a person who had been traveling in their car the vehicle was virtually empty.
A jacket was hanging from the back widow, two drink bottles were on the back seat, one bag of sugar-free lozenges was on the front passenger seat, and there was what appeared to be an unopened bottle of water in the driver’s cup holder.
The trunk also was also virtually empty. It contained one blue nylon duffle bag with one pair of flip-flops inside.
Both of the rearview mirrors were broken off of the vehicle and the roof was partially caved in.
“That could have been logs or just water pressure,” Waldrop said of the dented roof.
While Jones’ cause of death has been officially listed as drowning Waldrop said the circumstances of the drowning could only be speculated.
Waldrop said he thinks Jones was probably driving at night when she unknowingly drove into a flooded section of the road.
Comments
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on June 10, 2008 at 6:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Very mysterious, indeed!!!
Posted by justme (anonymous) on June 10, 2008 at 7:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wonder if Heratio would come to Natchez!!!
Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on June 10, 2008 at 9:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
One wonders how a stranger finds their way to Carthage Point Road. I imagine there are lots of area people who are not familiar with going to that area and I have not traveled it many many years. Amazing -- 8 miles once road turns to gravel. If I had been the stranger I would have returned to paved road immediately unless there was someone else involved. Many mystery questions appear from this article and I am sure our good detectives will be doing their best. -- Would love to see Horatio in person! ahhhh!
Posted by Peace007 (anonymous) on June 10, 2008 at 11:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Did they check with local hotels to see if anyone had rented a room and left their belongings in there without checking out? Maybe she was just driving around and had a flat?
Perhaps she was trying to get to, or was staying inside, that roofed structure that's alone out there on Carthadge Point Road. I viewed the top of it on google earth, she may have googled it too.
Posted by Peace007 (anonymous) on June 10, 2008 at 11:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Who is Horatio?
Posted by firered (anonymous) on June 10, 2008 at 11:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
oooohhh... If Horatio comes make sure he brings Erik Delco!!!! MMM... he's definitely a HOTTIE!!!!
Posted by jack (anonymous) on June 10, 2008 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
keep investigating sheriff deputies wonder what this ladies family is saying to authorities about her
Posted by Peace007 (anonymous) on June 10, 2008 at 11:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Who is Horatio and Erik Delco?
Posted by firered (anonymous) on June 10, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
off of CSI: Miami
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on June 10, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Horatio is good, true, but I like Grissom. lol
Posted by Hambone (anonymous) on June 10, 2008 at 12:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Send me Calleigh Duquesne
Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on June 10, 2008 at 1:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
CSI Miami - Like all the characters on there. Wish any one of them or all would show up. Wouldn't it be great to have a DNA lab like the one they show. Boy, can you imagine the cost of operating it and having investigators with that type of knowledge or background. How much of what they do is actual true to life, I don't know, but it does make a good show.
Posted by quest (anonymous) on June 10, 2008 at 2:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bring on ALL the CSI staff from both shows They could bring all their equipment and then leave it for our locals to use after they leave. Think of all the crimes and unsolved mysteries that would be solved.
Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on June 10, 2008 at 2:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Isn't it fun to dream?
Posted by noneya (anonymous) on June 10, 2008 at 2:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What have ya'll been sniffing? lol
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on June 10, 2008 at 5:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Cool your hormones firered...lol....the gas for the hummer would break the shows budget...
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on June 10, 2008 at 5:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually it is 4 shows. CSI (the original in Las Vegas), CSI: Miami, CSI: New York, and NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service). All are excellent, but I don't have time to keep up with all so I just watch the original most of the time.
I have read that all the techniques they use are real and available - but very expensive and therefore not in general use. Too bad!
Posted by diamonds4u71 (anonymous) on June 10, 2008 at 8:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I THINK SOMEONE NEED TO GIVE DOCTOR G. A CALL FOR THE CAUSE OF DEATH.
Posted by firered (anonymous) on June 10, 2008 at 10:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ok, my turn.. Who is Dr. G?
Posted by vasb8969 (anonymous) on June 10, 2008 at 10:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think some of us watch too much TV, lol. Dr. G is a Medical Examiner on one of the cable networks. Can't remember which one.
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