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Death of Jon-Niece Jones

SOLVED2002Upper Freehold Township, New Jersey, near Six Flags Great Adventure3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026

Documents violence · crimes against children — written to inform, not to shock.

Illustrative

On March 18, 2005, a hunter discovered a small human skull in wooded undergrowth in Upper Freehold Township, New Jersey, roughly three miles from Six Flags Great Adventure. New Jersey State Police estimated the remains belonged to a girl between five and nine years old. A burned black Nike shoe, a zipper, cloth fragments, and a bag bearing a Sylvester the Cat graphic were recovered at the scene, and evidence indicated the body had been deliberately burned. No cause of death could be established, though healing rib fractures were noted, and investigators classified the case as a homicide. Estimated date of death fell between 2001 and 2004.

Because fire damage prevented recovery of a standard DNA profile, investigators used mitochondrial DNA extracted at the University of North Texas. Facial reconstructions, including a clay sculpture by artist Frank Bender and later digital renderings, were created to help identify the child. Investigators theorized that whoever disposed of the body was unfamiliar with the local area, since a nearby swamp would have offered easier concealment and the remains were left unburied. The case was featured on America's Most Wanted in 2009, generating roughly one hundred tips, none of which led to identification at the time.

In August 2012, a woman named Iyonna Jones came forward suggesting the remains might belong to her sister, Jon-Niece Jones. A DNA comparison in October 2012 confirmed the match. Investigators determined that Jon-Niece had died on August 15, 2002, in the home of her aunt, Likisha Jones, as a result of physical abuse and neglect by her mother, Elisha Jones. Elisha Jones, along with Likisha Jones's boyfriend, Godfrey Gibson, and Jon-Niece's uncle, James Jones, were alleged to have set the body on fire and disposed of it at the site where it was later found. No missing person report had ever been filed following the child's death. Elisha Jones had died in December 2002 and was never charged.

In October 2012, Likisha Jones, James Jones, and Godfrey Gibson were charged with evidence tampering, obstruction of justice, and hindering apprehension. They were indicted on January 7, 2013, and released on bail. All three initially pleaded not guilty but changed their pleas to guilty in late 2013. Prosecutors stated that Jon-Niece's mother was believed to be solely responsible for the girl's death and that the other three were not involved in the killing itself. On March 1, 2014, Likisha Jones and James Jones were sentenced to two years' probation, and Godfrey Gibson was sentenced to one year minus one day in prison. The case remains documented as a resolved identification with limited convictions related to concealment of the death rather than the killing itself.

Key facts

Victims
Jon-Niece Jones
Date
2002
Location
Upper Freehold Township, New Jersey, near Six Flags Great Adventure
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 2002-08-15

    Jon-Niece Jones died in the home of her aunt, Likisha Jones, as a result of physical abuse and neglect by her mother, Elisha Jones.

  2. 2002-12

    Elisha Jones, the victim's mother, died approximately three months after her daughter's death.

  3. 2005-03-18

    A hunter discovered a small human skull and other skeletal remains in Upper Freehold Township, New Jersey, near Six Flags Great Adventure.

  4. 2007

    A composite sketch of the unidentified victim was created.

  5. 2009

    The case was featured on America's Most Wanted, generating about one hundred tips with no meaningful leads.

  6. 2012-08

    Iyonna Jones told authorities the remains might be her sister, Jon-Niece Jones.

  7. 2012-10

    DNA comparison confirmed the remains were those of Jon-Niece Jones; Likisha Jones, James Jones, and Godfrey Gibson were charged with evidence tampering, obstruction of justice, and hindering apprehension.

  8. 2013-01-07

    The three suspects were indicted and released on bail.

  9. 2013

    Likisha Jones, James Jones, and Godfrey Gibson changed their pleas from not guilty to guilty.

  10. 2014-03-01

    Likisha Jones and James Jones were sentenced to two years' probation; Godfrey Gibson was sentenced to one year minus one day in prison.

Best coverage

No approved coverage links are attached yet.

People

  • Godfrey Gibson

    CONVICTED

    Boyfriend of Likisha Jones; pleaded guilty to evidence tampering, obstruction of justice, and hindering apprehension; sentenced to one year minus one day in prison.

    citation on file

  • Jon-Niece Jones

    VICTIM

    Nine-year-old girl who died on August 15, 2002, as a result of physical abuse and neglect; her remains were found in 2005 and identified in 2012.

    citation on file

  • James Jones

    CONVICTED

    Victim's uncle; pleaded guilty to evidence tampering, obstruction of justice, and hindering apprehension; sentenced to two years' probation.

    citation on file

  • Elisha Jones

    CHARGED

    Victim's mother, believed by law enforcement to be solely responsible for the girl's death; died in December 2002 before any charges could be filed.

    citation on file

  • Likisha Jones

    CONVICTED

    Victim's aunt; pleaded guilty to evidence tampering, obstruction of justice, and hindering apprehension; sentenced to two years' probation.

    citation on file

Places

Upper Freehold Township, New Jersey, near Six Flags Great Adventure

40.1804, -74.5040

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
A nine-year-old girl's burned skeletal remains were found in 2005 near Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey; identified in 2012 as Jon-Niece Jones, she had died of abuse and neglect in 2002, and three relatives were later convicted of concealing her death.
Where did the crime happen?
Upper Freehold Township, New Jersey, near Six Flags Great Adventure.
Who was convicted?
Godfrey Gibson (Boyfriend of Likisha Jones; pleaded guilty to evidence tampering, obstruction of justice, and hindering apprehension; sentenced to one year minus one day in prison.), James Jones (Victim's uncle; pleaded guilty to evidence tampering, obstruction of justice, and hindering apprehension; sentenced to two years' probation.), and Likisha Jones (Victim's aunt; pleaded guilty to evidence tampering, obstruction of justice, and hindering apprehension; sentenced to two years' probation.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved. Last verified July 2026.

Sources

  1. Murder of Jon-Niece Joneswikipedia · Wikipedia · 2026-07-05
  2. Contemporaneous coverage — The New York Timesnews · The New York Times · 2026-07-05
  3. Contemporaneous coverage — New York Postnews · New York Post · 2026-07-05

Last verified JUL 2026

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