New Twist in Arkansas Beauty Queen Murder Case
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: December 16, 2011
There's a new twist in the case involving the 2005 killing in Russellville of a young woman who had competed in the Miss Arkansas pageant that year.
Kevin Jones, the former boyfriend of victim Nona Dirksmeyer, has filed a federal lawsuit in Little Rock seeking $10-million in damages.
Jones was arrested in Dirksmeyer's killing but acquitted when the case went to trial. Dirksmeyer, who was a student at Arkansas Tech University, was found beaten to death in her apartment at the Inglewood Apartments complex on December 15, 2005.
In his 13-page lawsuit filed today, Jones accuses Russellville police detective Mark Frost and former chief of police James Bacon of letting pride and ego direct their actions as well as conspiring with Gary Dunn, who was later named as a suspect in the killing, to withhold evidence that proved his innocence.
Gary Dunn was arrested for Dirksmeyer's murder after Jones' acquittal but also escaped conviction when two trials were declared mistrials.
Jones, who says he and Dirksmeyer had talked about getting married, is seeking $5-million each for compensatory and exemplary damages and demands a jury trial.
In asking for the millions in damages, Jones' lawsuit cites the damage to his name and reputation and the mental anguish he suffered during and after his arrest and trial. The suit also states that Jones' parents sold their home to pay $500,000 for his defense, money which he still owes them. Jones also claims the officers actions were intended to allow an innocent man to be convicted.
Lawsuit specifics:
Kevin Jones, the former boyfriend of victim Nona Dirksmeyer, has filed a federal lawsuit in Little Rock seeking $10-million in damages.
Jones was arrested in Dirksmeyer's killing but acquitted when the case went to trial. Dirksmeyer, who was a student at Arkansas Tech University, was found beaten to death in her apartment at the Inglewood Apartments complex on December 15, 2005.
In his 13-page lawsuit filed today, Jones accuses Russellville police detective Mark Frost and former chief of police James Bacon of letting pride and ego direct their actions as well as conspiring with Gary Dunn, who was later named as a suspect in the killing, to withhold evidence that proved his innocence.
Gary Dunn was arrested for Dirksmeyer's murder after Jones' acquittal but also escaped conviction when two trials were declared mistrials.
Jones, who says he and Dirksmeyer had talked about getting married, is seeking $5-million each for compensatory and exemplary damages and demands a jury trial.
In asking for the millions in damages, Jones' lawsuit cites the damage to his name and reputation and the mental anguish he suffered during and after his arrest and trial. The suit also states that Jones' parents sold their home to pay $500,000 for his defense, money which he still owes them. Jones also claims the officers actions were intended to allow an innocent man to be convicted.
Lawsuit specifics:
- Frost investigated Dunn's alibi and knew he lied about not being in the apartment complex when Dirksmeyer was killed and then lied to the prosecutor that Dunn's alibi cleared him in the case
- Frost lied when he said an FBI investigative team supported his belief that Jones staged the crime scene, faked a later discovery of Nona's body and touched her body to provide an explanation for why her blood was on his clothing
- Cites Dunn's prior arrest, conviction and prison term for the 2002 attack of a woman jogging in a park as proving his "predatory inclinations"
- States that a condom wrapper found at the scene was not tested by police for DNA until Jones' attorney asked for the test proves intent to withhold evidence. (The test did not find Jones' DNA).
