Buffalo man sentenced for killing his mother while being investigated for homicide of his ex-girlfriend

Submitted by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced 28-year-old Charles L. Jones of Buffalo was sentenced this afternoon before Erie County Court Judge Sheila A. DiTullio to 50 years in prison.

The defendant caused the death of his ex-girlfriend, 25-year-old Jacquetta Lee, by stabbing her repeatedly inside of her apartment on Main Street near Heath Street in the City of Buffalo. On Thursday, July 18, 2019, the victim was found deceased in the bathroom after she was reported missing by her family. The victim’s body was discovered approximately three days after she was killed.

The defendant also caused the death of his mother, 52-year-old Alethia Atwood Williams, by stabbing her repeatedly inside of her apartment on Jefferson Avenue near East Ferry Street in the City of Buffalo. On Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, Buffalo Police Department arrested the defendant for the homicide of Jacquetta Lee. As part of the investigation, a search warrant was executed at the Jefferson Avenue residence where police found the remains of Alethia Atwood Williams inside of a closet. The victim had been deceased for approximately two weeks.

On April 24, 2023, Jones pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter in the first degree (class “B” violent felonies). He pleaded guilty to the charges on the day jury selection was scheduled to begin in his trial. As part of the guilty plea, Jones waived his right to pursue a motion under the Domestic Violence Survivor Justice Act, pursuant to New York State Penal Law 60.12. The defendant also pleaded guilty to the reduced charges under the agreement that he would serve the maximum sentence for his crimes.

DA Flynn commends Det. Sgt. Carl Lundin, Det. Adam Stephany, Det. Scott Malec and Det. Erin McCarthy of the Buffalo Police Department homicide squad for their work in these investigations.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Eugene T. Partridge III of the homicide bureau and Assistant District Attorney Justin H. Caldwell of the narcotics/intelligence unit.