LOUISIANA, Mo. — The former police chief of Louisiana, Missouri, is now facing a murder charge in connection with an overdose death in the small-town last year.
William Jones was indicted by a grand jury on a second-degree murder charge last week and taken to the Cole County Jail in connection with the death of his girlfriend's brother Gabriel Thone. Jones was already facing multiple drug-related charges in connection with the case.
In a statement, Jones' attorney Chris Lozano called the death a tragedy but maintained his client's innocence in the case.
In October an off-duty Louisiana police officer called the Pike County 911 non-emergency line to report an overdose inside of a Kentucky Street apartment leased by Jones.
Once inside, deputies found 24-year-old Gabriel Throne dead in an upstairs bedroom and his brother suffering from an overdose.
While investigating the overdoses deputies found what they believe to be meth and fentanyl inside Jones' home.
Jones was charged in October with one count of second-degree drug trafficking, possession of a controlled substance, tampering with evidence and an additional charge for possession of 35 grams or less of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoids.
His girlfriend, Alexis J. (AJ) Thone, 25, was charged with one count of second-degree drug trafficking and possession of a controlled substance.
According to the probable cause statement in the case, some of the drugs found inside his apartment may have been taken from an evidence locker inside the police department.
The full statement from Jones' attorney is as follows:
"Mr. Jones has spent his entire life in service to his country and community upholding the rule of law and the principles embodied in the Constitution, including the presumption of innocence. The death of Gabriel Thone is certainly a tragedy but not one that Mr. Jones is responsible for. Will Jones maintains his innocence and will continue to vigorously defend himself in court. Taking this to the grand jury just prior to his preliminary hearing indicates how weak the case against Mr. Jones truly is."
