Stacey N. Jones of Chapel Hill was convicted of the murder of24-year-old HeatherPrather of Carrboro. Jones met Prather at a local gym. He was sentencedto life in prison withoutthe possibility of parole.
Jones pleaded guilty to murder first-degree murder, he says, to avoid the death penalty,which District Attorney Carl Fox had said he would do.Jones said he felt there was no way for him to win.
But Fox, the district attorney, said evidence against Jones wasoverwhelming. Jones' baseball cap was found in Prather'sCarrboro apartment, as were his bloody footprints. Also, Fox said, aneighbor heard Prather scream, "No, Stacey, no," on the night of themurder.
Prather's family and friends comforted each other after the sentencing,saddened over their loss. They said they were glad that Jones won'tbe eligible for parole.
Prather was found dead in her Estes Park apartment. Police came to theapartmentafter finding her carabandoned. She had been beaten to death, and she also suffered a knifewound. Prather lived alone and worked for both Marriott Corporation andGold's Gym. Police said that Prather and Jones once dated.
Authorities in Washington, D.C., are looking at Jones, 28, inconnectionwith two slayings there.
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