VINTON – A woman has pleaded guilty to murder charges after being charged with the murder of an Ashville Ohio Couple.
On March 1, 2022 the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 hang-up in the area of Frazee Lane. Upon further investigation, deputies were sent to the 63000 block of Frazee Road in McArthur’s residence where a shooting had occurred. The scene was secured, and 31-year-old Jori Brown, of McArthur, and 29-year-old Lawrence McMichael, of Ashville, were found dead at the scene.
After a muli-county search, a vehicle of interest was stopped, and two suspects were apprehended in the case, with assistance from the Wellston Police Department and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
August Christopher Schuetz and Shania Nicole Jones both was indicted on two counts of Aggravated Murder, an unclassified felony (with a Firearm Specification – 3 year); two counts of Murder, an unclassified felony; two counts of Voluntary Manslaughter, a felony of the first degree (with a Specification for Forfeiture of a Weapon and a Firearm Specification – 3 year); Aggravated Burglary, a felony of the first degree (with a Firearm Specification – 1 year, and a Specification for Forfeiture of a Weapon); two counts of Felonious Assault, a felony of the second degree (with a Firearm Specification – 3 year, and a Specification for Forfeiture of a Weapon); Tampering With Evidence, a felony of the third degree; and Gross Abuse of a Corpse, a felony of the fifth degree (with a Firearm Specification – 3 year, and a Specification for Forfeiture of a Weapon).
UPDATE – In Vinton county court this week (2/1/23) Shania Jones pled guilty Wednesday to two counts of conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the deaths.
According the Prosecuting Attorney, Jones could potentially face a maximum prison term of almost 28 years, a maximum fine of $40,000, up to 5 years post-release control and registration in the Violent Offender Registry among other penalties.
Schuetz’s trial has not been scheduled, and is still being held on the Aggravated Murder Charges.
