Daily American Republic

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- An ongoing domestic dispute between a Poplar Bluff couple ended Sunday with both dying in an apparent murder-suicide.

Gary L. Jones, 37, is believed to have shot his 32-year-old wife, Yolanda Kaye Jones, before later turning the gun on himself inside their residence in the 900 block of Henderson Avenue, according to police reports.

Based on a letter Gary Jones left, "he was somewhat despondent over the situation with his wife," explained Poplar Bluff police detective Tim Davis. "Apparently, she was delving into the drug culture [and] was drifting farther and farther away from the family life.

"Apparently, he lost control of the family situation and this was the only way he felt he could handle the situation."

Gary Jones' letter further said that he "bought the weapon specifically for this reason," Davis said.

Authorities learned of the Joneses' deaths at about 11:45 a.m. Sunday when their nephew, Christopher Lewis, contacted the police department.

"According to Lewis, his uncle was laying on the couch ... but would not acknowledge him nor come to the door," according to patrolman Jamie Sample's report.

Lewis reportedly further told Sample that someone was sitting in their car, which was parked in front of the residence.

When Sample approached the 1991 Buick, he saw a subject, later identified as Yolanda Jones, sitting in the front passenger seat with what appeared to be a coat draped over the head and upper torso, the report said.

After finding the car was locked, Sample said, he knocked loudly on the window. There was no response, he said.

Upon checking the residence, Sample said, he found the front door was ajar and secured by an interior chain.

"Upon pushing the door open as far as possible, I observed a black male laying on the couch," Sample explained. "I yelled loudly out, but was unable to get a response from him, also."

Sample said he made forced entry into the residence where he found Gary Jones and what appeared to be a small semiautomatic handgun near his right hand.

At that point, Sample said, he called for the assistance of other officers in securing the scene and for detectives to process it. A locksmith also was requested to open the car.

Also responding to the scene was Butler County Deputy Coroner Bruce Goin, who scheduled the autopsies to be performed sometime between 2 and 7 p.m. today by Dr. James Costin at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.

"Evidence indicates each suffered a single gunshot wound to the head," explained Davis. The autopsies are expected to confirm that the gunshot wounds were the cause of deaths, he said.

As investigators processed the scenes Sunday, Davis said, they recovered two spent shell casings, which are "consistent with the number of shots fired."

Evidence found inside the car suggests that Yolanda Jones probably was killed "en route back from Cotton Plant, Ark., during the late evening hours of Saturday," explained Davis. The Joneses reportedly had attended a family function there.

Lewis told Sample that he last saw Yolanda between 2 and 3 p.m. Saturday at Cotton Plant at a relative's residence.

"Yolanda stated to (Lewis) that she wasn't coming back to Poplar Bluff due to starting school in Memphis (Tenn.)," Sample said in his report. "Lewis stated he and his brother returned to Poplar Bluff between 7 and 8 (p.m.)."

Lewis, according to Sample, also spoke with his uncle who told him that he would be coming to a relative's residence later in the evening; however, Gary Jones never arrived.

According to reports, officers had responded to domestic disputes between the Joneses, who reportedly had been separated for about five months, in late December.