Crime Library: Criminal Minds and Methods

Jarrod Davidson: Murderous family secret

The DNA

The DNA results finally came back near the end of the year. It was not an exact match to Kelee. But the DNA sample was shown to have been from a female and very similar to Kelee's, so it had to be a relative. Sorenson was disappointed but decided to test Kelee's mother.Detectives now obtained a DNA sample from MaLinda, or "Mindy" Jones to see if it matched. It did. She was arrested on Jan. 6, 2005, at her northern Santa Barbara County home, near Kelee's.

A search warrant had been previously served on Mindy's home and on her telephone service providers. Cell phone records indicated that Kelee called Mindy at 9:06 p.m. the night of the murder. The call's relay tower log showed that Mindy was traveling south on the 101 Freeway, in the direction of Jarrod's apartment.

And there was more evidence. Detectives called every card shop in the county and located a store near Kelee's home that sold the card found with the plant. The buyer was identified as Mindy's husband, Philip Jones. In addition, Sorenson located a witness who said Philip had asked him to obtain an unregistered gun. After Jarrod's death, Philip had called the witness again and asked him to forget about their earlier conversation.

Note found with plant
Note found with plant

Philip was arrested three weeks after his wife. Both were charged with first degree murder and the special circumstance of lying in wait, which could make them eligible for the death penalty.

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