A murder suspect set to go on trial on Monday is on the run after a paperwork mix-up allowed him out of jail.
Quinton Jones walked out the front door of the Fulton County Jail two weeks ago even though he was being held without bond on murder charges.
Jones was charged in the June 2011 death of 29-year-old Lamarice Westbrook, who was found dead near the Lakewood Amphitheater.
"My brother will never walk this earth again and he's walking around free as if he did nothing," said the victim's sister.
On Monday morning, more than 40 of Westbrook's friends and family showed up at the courthouse, expecting the start of the murder trial. However, Jones didn't show up.
The sheriff's office and the district attorney disagree on who messed up.
The Fulton County Sheriff's Office says they did what they were told, saying "The Fulton County Jail received court papers indicating that Mr. Jones case status was nolle prosequi [unwilling to prosecute] and dead docketed. Fulton County Jail staff never received documents indicating that Mr. Jones case was re-indicted. Jail staff released Mr. Jones based upon court orders."
"It's unacceptable. Come on, it don't make sense," said Stoney Jackson, the victim's brother.
District Attorney Paul Howard says his office filed the paperwork correctly when they added additional charges to the indictment and re-arraigned Jones, and then dead docketed the old indictment.
"Jail officials released Defendant Jones on the basis of the Dead Docketed, or original indictment, instead of holding him on the newest indictment in the system," Howard said in a statement.
"I don't care who messed up. I don't care who messed up in the system. Fix it, get him back, try him," Westbrook's sister said.
A bench warrant has been issued for Jones' arrest. The Sheriff's Office Fugitive Task Force is searching for him.
Saturday, May 18 2013 4:53 PM EDT2013-05-18 20:53:02 GMT
Security will be tight and traffic will be messy around the Morehouse College campus on Sunday. President Barack Obama will address graduates at the college's commencement ceremony.
Security will be tight and traffic will be messy around the Morehouse College campus on Sunday. President Barack Obama will address graduates at the college's commencement ceremony.
Saturday, May 18 2013 3:44 PM EDT2013-05-18 19:44:49 GMT
They say you can't win if you don't play, and thousands of people are. The jackpot for Saturday night's Powerball drawing is an estimated $600 million, giving many a bad case of lottery fever.
They say you can't win if you don't play, and thousands of people are. The jackpot for Saturday night's Powerball drawing is an estimated $600 million, giving many a bad case of lottery fever.
State officials are reminding drivers the national "Click It or Ticket" campaign is set to begin and could translate to fines for drivers and passengers who aren't wearing seatbelts.
State officials are reminding drivers the national "Click It or Ticket" campaign is set to begin and could translate to fines for drivers and passengers who aren't wearing seatbelts.
Friday, May 17 2013 11:59 PM EDT2013-05-18 03:59:14 GMT
Who wants to a millionaire? How about 600 times over?
Who wants to a millionaire? How about 600 times over? The already gigantic Powerball jackpot for this Saturday night's drawing has risen again, hitting $600 million at noon on Friday—which is the highest in the history of the game.
