OK OK - Melody, 19, & Paul Jones (fnd dec'd), 20, Earlsboro, 4 May 1983

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Community Frightened by Seemingly Motiveless Kidnappings and Murder
Robby Trammell
Modified: May 16, 1983 at 12:00 am - Published: May 16, 1983

Melody Ann Jones, 19, an employee of the Seminole Dairy Queen, has been missing since 11 a.m. on May 5. Her husband, Paul Richard Jones, 20, was found stabbed to death in their rural home northwest of Earlsboro.

Patty Hamilton, 18, an employee of the Seminole U Totem Store has been missing since 4:35 a.m. on April 9. She disappeared from the store during a night work shift.
Police believe Miss Hamilton, the night clerk, was victim of a robbery-kidnapping, and think Mrs. Jones was abducted after her husband was slain.

Police believe Miss Hamilton, the night clerk, was victim of a robbery-kidnapping, and think Mrs. Jones was abducted after her husband was slain.
Whether the two cases are connected is as much a mystery as is the whereabouts of the women.
 
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Melody Jones missing since May, 1983

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...27523414460.1073741827.200400166750529&type=1

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/j/jones_melody.html

http://doenetwork.org/cases/2584dfok.html
On May 4, 1983, Melody Jones spent the day fishing with her family. Her brother gave her a ride home, dropping her off at the rural Earlsboro home she shared with her husband Paul Richard Jones. He said he saw the door ajar as she went in and the lights were on inside. Sometime that night, Melody's husband, then 20, was murdered inside that home. Melody vanished.

On the morning of May 5, 1983, Melody didn't show up for work at the Dairy Queen in Seminole. Her mother went to Melody's home and discovered her son-in-law's body. Melody wasn't there, but all her personal belongings, including her purse and eyeglasses, were found inside. The couple's car was parked in the driveway. There were no signs that a domestic dispute occurred.

Investigators said they still believe the evidence points to Melody being the victim of abduction. Deputies searched the area around the home on foot and horseback, covering 160 acres, while a search by helicopter covered a 6-square-mile area, finding no sign of Melody or any clues.
 
This article is about Melody and Paul Jones. The murder of Paul and the disappearance (assumed deceased) of Melody occurred on May 4/5, 1983.

“Guilt is a heavy burden to carry since 1983″ Pott. Sheriff’s office wants answers in cold case

http://kfor.com/2015/07/09/guilt-is-a-heavy-burden-to-carry-since-1983-pott-sheriffs-office-wants-answers-in-cold-case/


And just days ago, Paul’s mother came to them.

“She made a wish that she would go to her dying breath to find out who killed her son, and she’s about that stage now,” Palmer says.

Paul’s mother flew in from London; she’s terminally ill.

“She wants to know who killed her son and I want to know who killed her son, and I want to know what happened to Melody,” Palmer said.
 
Would be nice if there were two threads here: one for Ms. Hamilton, the other for the couple.

Interesting cases; glad for KFOR's recent piece on the Joneses (above).
 
Pottawatomie County?

That's the same county that serial killer Glendon Carl Gouker is from. Of course he was only twelve when this crime occurred. But he did implicate a much older person in a double murder in Wisconsin in which he stated he drove that older person and another unidentified man to that double murder and waited outside while they went in and killed them. I was told that an older person had abused Glendon for a number of years. Maybe that same person is the third unidentified man?
 
http://www.reddirtreport.com/oklahoma-mysteries/cold-case-missing-and-murdered

An elderly mother’s hope to see justice for her son’s murder brought her back to the United States one last time. Marge Jones hopes that someone will come forward before it’s too late so she can have closure and put a killer behind bars.

Her son Paul Jones, 20, was found stabbed to death in his rural Earlsboro home May 5, 1983. Paul’s wife, Melody (Garton) Jones, 19, has never been found.

Suspicious circumstances before the murder include two life insurance policies on Paul Jones less than a month before his murder and numerous sightings of Melody.
 
Nov 3 2017
http://kfor.com/2017/11/03/oklahoma-investigators-digging-into-1983-cold-case-after-new-clue/
rbbm.
[h=1]Oklahoma investigators digging into 1983 cold case after new clue[/h]
The trail of clues had gone cold until recently, when someone came forward to tell authorities about a ruby ring that was found on a property four miles from the Jones' home.

"In the case report, Melody was actually wearing a ring that had rubies in it then," Palmer said.
So, they searched the 10-acre property.
"We did a three day search by hand, with dogs, and with back hoe," he said.
But the only bones they found belonged to animals.
"It was hard for all of us to pack up our stuff and pull out, because we knew once we pulled out, we weren’t coming back," said Palmer.
Devastated and fatigued from heartbreak, they're ready for the mystery to end.

"Honestly, I hope we just find her bones," Cox said. "I don’t care who killed her. I just want to be able to bury her next to my mother."

The undersheriff is asking anyone with any information, even if it seems inconsequential, to come forward and help them solve the case.
 
Police still searching for answers 35 years after murder of Paul, disappearance of Melody Ann Jones

"...Melody did not show up at her job at the Dairy Queen in Seminole, Oklahoma, roughly 8 miles away from her home, according to Undersheriff Travis Palmer at the Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office.

The Dairy Queen called Melody's mother, Carol Garton, to try to locate her. Carol decided to check on Paul and Melody's home. When she arrived, she found a gruesome scene, according to police.

Carol walked into Melody's home and discovered her son-in-law Paul in the bedroom. He had been stabbed to death, police said. She could not find Melody anywhere, but her purse was in the house, its contents dumped on the floor. Melody's glasses, which Randall says she wore all the time, were also still in the house.

The couple's car was still in the driveway....

The Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office is now working in conjunction with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations on the 35-year-old case. Undersheriff Palmer told Dateline they do not have a suspect or person of interest in the case...."

https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/col...years-after-murder-paul-disappearance-n869936

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Link: http://i.imgur.com/sJMuZWf.jpg
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Bumping for Melody

6 Unidentified Person Exclusions

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Melody-Jones.jpg


19-year-old Melody Jones has been missing from Earlsboro, Oklahoma since May 4th, 1983.

Melody spent the day of May 4th fishing with her family. Her younger brother brought her back to her home on Benson Park Road where she lived with her husband, Paul Richard Jones, around 10:30 PM. They’d been married for two years. Her brother noticed the lights were on and the door was open. He took her around back and made sure she had the lights from his car to light her way inside. She went inside with no issue.

The next day, May 5th, Melody didn’t show up for her shift at the Dairy Queen in Seminole, which is out of character for her. Her mom was called and she went to check on her daughter. When she arrived she discovered Paul’s body lying on the floor of the couple’s bedroom. He’d been stabbed twice, once in the neck and once in the chest. The couple’s .12 gauge was laying on the bed. It’s believed Paul may have been trying to load it when they were attacked.

Melody was nowhere to be found. All of her belongings were still in the house, including her purse, which had been dumped and scattered all over the floor, and her glasses, which she was legally blind without.

An extensive search of the area turned up no clues of the whereabouts of Melody or what happened in the Jones home. Investigators and family members believe that Melody was taken against her will.
 

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Melody, circa 1983; Paul Richard Jones
  • Missing Since 05/04/1983
  • Missing From Earlsboro, Oklahoma
  • Classification Endangered Missing
  • Sex Female
  • Race Native American
  • Age 19 years old
  • Height and Weight 4'11, 140 pounds

  • Clothing/Jewelry Description Unknown, but she often wears blue jeans.

  • Distinguishing Characteristics Native American female. Light brown hair, hazel eyes. Melody's maiden name is Garton and she may use the name Melody Garton Jones. She wears eyeglasses with plastic frames, which she left behind when she disappeared. She would be legally blind without her glasses. Melody's shoe size is 5 1/2. She kept her fingernails short in 1983 and often painted them. Her ears are pierced and her hair is extremely curly.

Details of Disappearance​

Melody was last seen in Earlsboro, Oklahoma on May 4, 1983. She spent the day fishing with her family. Her younger brother gave her a ride to her home on Benson Park Road and dropped her off. Her brother noticed the door was ajar and lights were on inside the home as Melody went inside. She has never been heard from again.

The following morning, after Melody failed to show up for work at the Dairy Queen in Seminole, Oklahoma, her mother went to the Jones home to check on her. Melody's husband of two years, 20-year-old Paul Richard Jones, was found stabbed to death inside the residence.

A photograph of Paul is posted with this case summary. He had been killed in the bedroom sometime during the night.

All of Melody's belongings, including her purse and eyeglasses, were still there, the contents of her purse were dumped on the floor and the couple's car was parked in the driveway. There was no sign of forced entry, and no indications that a robbery or a domestic dispute had occurred.

An extensive search of the area turned up no sign of Melody. Her family believes she was abducted by whoever murdered Paul, and police agree that this is the likely scenario. She was acting normally prior to her disappearance and there were no apparent problems in her marriage.

Paul's murder was never solved and no suspects have ever been identified in his death or Melody's presumed kidnapping.

Investigating Agency​

  • Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office 405-275-2526

Source Information​

Updated 5 times since October 12, 2004. Last updated February 7, 2019; two pictures added.
 

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2: Cold Case Playing Cards Series 2; 3: Cold Case Playing Cards Series 2

Name: Melody Ann Jones
Case Classification: Endangered Missing
Missing Since: May 04, 1983
Location Last Seen: Earlsboro, Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma

Physical Description​

Date of Birth: Circa 1964
Age: 19 years old
Race: American Indian / Alaska Native
Gender: Female
Height: 4'11"
Weight: 135 - 140 lbs
Hair Color: Brown. Light brown, extremely curly hair.
Eye Color: Hazel
Nickname/Alias: Melody Garton Jones
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Finger and toe nails: Kept short, often painted.. Piercing: Pierced ears

Identifiers​

Dentals: Unknown
Fingerprints: Unknown
DNA: Unknown

Clothing & Personal Items​

Clothing: usually wore blue jeans
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Eyewear: Always wore glasses - plastic frames - legally blind without glasses. Footwear: shoe size is 5-5 1/2

Circumstances of Disappearance​

On May 4, 1983, Melody Jones spent the day fishing with her family. Her brother gave her a ride home, dropping her off at the rural Earlsboro home she shared with her husband Paul Richard Jones. He said he saw the door ajar as she went in and the lights were on inside. Sometime that night, Melody's husband, then 20, was murdered inside that home. Melody vanished.

On the morning of May 5, 1983, Melody didn't show up for work at the Dairy Queen in Seminole. Her mother went to Melody's home and discovered her son-in-law's body. Melody wasn't there, but all her personal belongings, including her purse and eyeglasses, were found inside. The couple's car was parked in the driveway. There were no signs that a domestic dispute occurred.

Investigators said they still believe the evidence points to Melody being the victim of abduction. Deputies searched the area around the home on foot and horseback, covering 160 acres, while a search by helicopter covered a 6-square-mile area, finding no sign of Melody or any clues.

Investigating Agency(s)​

Agency Name: Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office
Agency Contact Person: Scott Hawkins, Lieutenant/ Investigator
Agency Phone Number: 4052731727
Agency E-Mail: info@pottcoso.com
Agency Case Number: CR83-175

Agency Name: Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation - South Central Investigative Regional Office Headquarters
Agency Contact Person: Joe Lahue, Special Agent
Agency Phone Number: 4058486724
Agency E-Mail: okmissing@osbi.ok.gov
Agency Case Number: N/A

NamUs Case Number: 17877

Information Source(s)​

NamUs
The News Star

Admin Notes​

Added: 5/11/08; Last Updated: 03/31/2022 - By: Doe-NamUs-App
 

Trace Evidence made an episode about this case recenty.
 

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