Mother speaks out about son's recent murder

Timothy Jones is prime suspect in twin slayings.

Mary Dill talks about the shooting death of her son, Dovon Williams. Timothy Wayne Jones Jr., the man suspected in the deaths of Williams and Arbrie Smith, remains on the loose. WHIO-TV PHOTO

CHUCK Mary Dill talks about the shooting death of her son, Dovon Williams. Timothy Wayne Jones Jr., the man suspected in the deaths of Williams and Arbrie Smith, remains on the loose. WHIO-TV PHOTO

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By Jessica Heffner, Staff Writer 9:20 PM Wednesday, December 28, 2011

SPRINGFIELD — Mary Dill said she knew something was wrong with her son, Dovon Williams, before she ever saw the crime scene tape.

“When we started down Center (Street), I could feel it and I knew he was gone,” Dill said. “He got to live to see everything, and then I got to see him take a bullet.”

Williams, 28, and his friend, Arbrie Smith, 27, were gunned down on Oct. 16 at the intersection of West Perrin Avenue and Center Street. Police have issued two aggravated murder warrants for Timothy Wayne Jones Jr., 27, in connection with the shooting.

Prior to that incident, he was being investigated by the Ohio Highway Patrol’s Springfield Post for allegedly having a gun illegally along with 1.4 grams of crack cocaine in a rental car on Feb. 20.

Jones was booked into the Clark County Jail on felony charges but was released on bond. Highway Patrol Sgt. Steve Duteil said Jones was indicted on those charges last week because of the time it took to process evidence in that case.

Dill said Jones is her cousin and while she “loves him,” she said time gap between the February case and his indictment may have cost “two people their lives.”

“Now how would you feel if ... this was your child and you knew there was eight months where this person walked free with that kind of charge?” she said.

Neither Dill nor Williams’ father, J.T. Hughes, think Jones is still in Ohio. They believe their son and Smith were fighting about a girl with Jones when they were shot. Williams and Jones had a history of fighting, the couple said.

“They had fought before and Dovon had whooped him, and it was just like (Jones) wasn’t planning on going through that again,” Hughes said. “I told him people don’t always fight fair.”

This Christmas was particularly difficult for the family. His four sons, ages 2 to 9, don’t understand why their father isn’t there, Dill said.

“To hear his baby ask, ‘where’s my daddy?’ It’s just heart-breaking for all of us,” Dill said through tears.

She sees her son’s face “every day,” and Dill said she’ll do whatever it takes to keep this from becoming a cold case.

“I’m not going to rest until they catch Tim. He’s a murderer and a coward,” Dill said. “To any family members, if you’re hiding him you’re wrong. You’re dead wrong.”

Anyone with information on Jones’ whereabouts can speak to police anonymously at (937) 324-7716.

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