Murder Trial of Lavaca Sex Offender Delayed

The murder trial of a sex offender charged with killing a teenage girl has been delayed.

Jones, 36, is charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of 16-year-old Angela Allen. The Van Buren girl met Jones — a registered sex offender — online, police said.

Allen disappeared the evening of Feb. 10 after telling family she was going for walk. Police said was with Jones near the Arkansas River at an area commonly known as the “Mud Town Bottoms.” They were making out, and Jones said he became angry when he learned Allen was only 16.

Jones told police he struck the girl and shoved her into the water.

Her remains were found days later stuffed in a barrel on property owned by Jones’ family off Highway 96 in Lavaca, police said. She had been strangled.

Jones was set for trial next month, but the trial has been delayed until Sept. 17. 

Jones began communicating with Allen on a social networking site called Mbuzzy.com. Police found that the two had communicated via text messages on their cell phones, as well.

Affidavits state that Jones told investigators he picked Allen up that night at the Summit Hospital parking lot in Van Buren. He planned to take her to his home in Lavaca, but said he decided not to because his girlfriend would be upset, according to the affidavit.

Jones was convicted of rape in April 2001 in Sebastian County. Court documents state he broke into a woman’s home, held a box cutter to her throat and raped her.

He was sentenced to ten years in prison, and was released on parole in September 2008.