Crime & Public Safety
Crime & Public Safety

Man gets life in ex-girlfriend’s murder at Henry County motel

Prosecutors said the man shot his ex-girlfriend in the back of the head while she was sleeping in the motel room.
Prosecutors said the man shot his ex-girlfriend in the back of the head while she was sleeping in the motel room.
By
Aug 12, 2019

A man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after a jury convicted him of killing his ex-girlfriend in a Henry County motel room.

Tory Leroy Jones Sr., 47, of Jonesboro, was sentenced Friday on multiple charges, including felony murder in the death of Elimisha Maryetta Gates, 40, of Atlanta.

Jones shot Gates in the back of the head while she was sleeping at the Express Inn and Suites in Stockbridge on Aug. 22, 2016, the Henry County District Attorney’s Office said Monday in a statement.

A maintenance worker found the woman dead inside the motel room the next day. Jones fled to Alabama, officials said.

RELATED: Man wanted in woman's slaying apprehended

He was taken into custody in the Huntsville area on Aug. 26, 2016, AJC.com previously reported. Officials from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Marshals Service aided in the arrest, Henry County police spokesman Capt. Joey Smith said at the time.

In addition to the felony murder charge, Jones was convicted of malice murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Henry County Superior Court Judge John Pipkin III sentenced Jones to life without parole plus 10 years.

In other news: 

The woman killed has been identified as 47-year-old Cheryl Lynn Shephard, of Woodstock.

About the Author

Asia Simone Burns is a watchdog reporter for the AJC. Burns was formerly an intern in AJC’s newsroom and now writes about crime. She is a graduate of Samford University and has previously reported for NPR and WABE, Atlanta’s NPR member station.

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