Published: November 19, 2008 07:24 am      

STABBING VICTIM LEAVES BEHIND 2 CHILDREN

A Live Oak woman was stabbed to death early Saturday in the parking lot of Illusions, a non-alcoholic nightclub in the Suwannee County Mall, say police. Two suspects are under arrest.

Elizabeth Jones, 31, of 11566 77th Trace suffered multiple stab wounds and died at Shands Live Oak, according to LOPD Det. Sgt. Ron Shaw.

Lace (pronounced Lacey) Laronda Jelks, 23, of 1733 Long Ave. and Kelli Sue Coulter, 22, of 615 N.W. Second St., were taken into custody Saturday on charges of second-degree murder.

A fight ensued at about 3:45 a.m. after Jones and Jelks, who were dancing at the club Illusions, "bumped into each other several times," according to a press release from Shaw.

The fight was broken up but started back in the parking lot after Jones confronted Jelks as she attempted to get into a vehicle driven by Coulter, said Shaw. Coulter then entered the fray, Shaw said. According to police reports, a knife entered the fight at some point and Jones received seven stab wounds.

Jones was transported to Shands Live Oak, where she was later pronounced dead.

Coulter left the parking lot of Illusions in her vehicle while Jelks went to Shands Live Oak by unknown means. Shaw said that neither was injured in the fight.

Jelks was arrested at the hospital without incident, according to Shaw. Coulter was arrested at her residence about three hours later. Both were transported to the Suwannee County Jail and charged with second-degree murder. Bond for each was set at $500,000.

Jelks and Coulter have since been transported to facilities in neighboring counties, according to Suwannee County Sheriff Tony Cameron. Cameron said one of the suspects is related to an employee of the Suwannee County Jail, and that Jones' boyfriend, Leslie McDaniels, works there as well.

According to Capt. John Mills of the Suwannee County Jail, Jelks is being housed at the Madison County Jail and Coulter is being held at the Columbia County Jail.

Each faces life in prison if convicted, said Shaw.

Jones' boyfriend of one year, McDaniels, said he had important plans for the holidays.

"She helped me through a lot, never turned her back on me and to me that means a lot," McDaniels said Monday. "I was going to propose to her on Christmas Day and we were going to plan our future together."

Jones leaves behind two children, Jerica Bowers, 13, and Jeffrey Francis, 8.

Van Tillman, Jones' aunt, said Bowers tried to attend school Monday but had to leave early.

"Children kept asking what happened and she finally broke down and had to leave school," Tillman said by phone Monday. "She was trying hard, but couldn't do it."

Tillman said Francis, who lives with his father, was asking to see his mother.

Tillman said Jones' long-term goals included a career as a social worker. She wanted to work with children at the state Department of Children and Families. Meanwhile, she planned to enroll at Suwannee Hamilton Technical Center in hopes of becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant.

Tillman celebrated her 31st birthday on Nov. 10.

"She is going to be missed very dearly," Tillman said. "She will be thought of every day."