Arrest made in 1997 cold case homicide
State Attorney Amira Fox and Chief Derrick Diggs of the Fort Myers Police Department announced late Tuesday afternoon the indictment and arrest of Michelle Ashley, a/k/a Michelle Jackson, in the murder of Keith Jones on June 19, 1997, in Fort Myers.
The Lee County Grand Jury met Tuesday and returned an indictment against Ashley, 42, for one count of first degree felony murder with a firearm, according to a release from the State Attorney’s office.
Jones was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and had recently graduated from the Law Enforcement Academy. He was found shot to death at the former Tides Motel in downtown Fort Myers, the report states.
According to a Lee County Sheriff’s Office report, Ashley, whose current address is listed as 1505 S.E. 24th Ave., in Cape Coral, was arrested at 8:08 p.m. Tuesday and charged with homicide murder while engaged in certain felony arrest.
The Fort Myers Police Department investigated the homicide and continued to dedicate extensive time and resources to this case. The State Attorney’s Office Cold Case Homicide Unit, in partnership with FMPD, reviewed the evidence and investigated new leads, resulting in today’s events.
“Today is a long time coming and I hope this indictment brings some comfort to the family of Keith Jones. I commend the continuing and tireless efforts of our Cold Case Homicide Unit and the Fort Myers Police Department,” said Fox.
Cold Case Homicide Unit Assistant State Attorney Dan Feinberg and Homicide Division Assistant State Attorney Sara Miller are prosecuting the case. Assisting them are State Attorney Cold Case Homicide Investigators Jennifer Griffith and Steve Scalici.