Update (February 3, 2020): The Fulton County District Attorney's office announced it would not be seeking the death penalty for Jordyn Jones and Barron Brantley, two college students charged with the death of Clark Atlanta University student Alexis Crawford.
Both students are facing six charges, and Brantley is facing an additional aggravated sodomy charge for allegedly sexually assaulting Crawford before her death. The charges include two counts of felony murder to single counts of murder, aggravated assault, false imprisonment and concealing the death of another. Despite their charges, the district attorney's office told 11Alive that it would not be seeking the death penalty for either of them.
According to court documents, Brantley, who was Jones’ boyfriend, sexually assaulted Crawford. Just days after she filed a police report and went to the hospital to have a rape kit administered, Crawford was allegedly killed by Jones and Brantley, who were trying to cover up the assault. Police said the DNA from the rape kit matched Brantley.
Brantley allegedly choked Crawford while Jones put a bag over her head. The couple then put Crawford’s body into a trash bin and dumped her in a park, as Blavity previously reported. Jones eventually admitted to the killing after police showed her surveillance footage of the couple trying to cover up the murder.
Original (November 22, 2019): A new development has been made in the tragic case of the 21-year-old Clark Atlanta University student allegedly killed by her roommate and her roommate's boyfriend.
A bond hearing was held on Thursday for Crawford's roommate, Jordyn Jones, according to WSBTV. During the hearing, prosecutors said the DNA of Jones' boyfriend, Barron Brantley, was found inside the victim. Jones reportedly tried to cover up the alleged rape. However, Deputy District Attorney Adam Abbate said the DNA doesn't necessarily prove Crawford was raped, CBS 46 reported.
Days before she was killed, Crawford filed a police report and accused Brantley of sexually assaulting her, CBS 46 reported.
According to Time, the police report from October 27 states that Crawford was drinking with Jones and Brantley before he allegedly assaulted her. Police said Crawford then went to the hospital to have a rape kit administered.
“In this report, Alexis described unwanted kissing and touching from Barron Brantley,” Atlanta police chief Erika Shields said at a news conference on November 8.
Crawford’s family filed a missing persons report, saying they last heard from her on the afternoon of October 30.
Jones and Crawford reportedly got into a physical fight on the night of October 30, while Brantley allegedly joined the altercation and strangled the student, Times reports.
During Brantley's preliminary hearing Friday, Detective Michael Young described Brantley's confession.
"He admitted to choking Alexis, Ms. Crawford, and while he was choking Ms. Crawford, Jordyn Jones put a plastic bag over her head," Young said according to 11Alive.
The detective also added that both suspects initially lied about partaking in any crime.
Surveillance footage coaxed Jones into finally admitting the truth.
The judge denied bond for Jones because she is perceived to be a flight risk. The suspect allegedly made plans to withdraw from school and move to Michigan hours after the murder.
Jones and her boyfriend Brantley, both of whom are also 21, are accused of strangling Crawford, stuffing her in a plastic bin and dumping her at a park. Both suspects were arrested after Crawford's body was found on November 8.
Jones remains in custody at the Fulton County Jail.
“The case has come to one of the saddest conclusions possible, and has been absolutely heartbreaking,” Shields said at the press conference.
Brantley's hearing can be viewed below:
