A North Carolina resident, Caleb Jones, 46, has been charged with second-degree murder following an incident involving two bail bondsmen at his home. On December 16, Hoke County police responded to a distress call from a bail bondsman who reported an ongoing assault at Jones’ residence. The Hoke County Sheriff’s Office revealed that another bail bondsman had been attacked with an ax, sustaining injuries to his upper body. A woman found unresponsive at the scene was later identified as Linda Hall, 73, Jones’ mother.
Hall was airlifted to a hospital where she succumbed to her injuries the following day. The injured bail bondsman was also hospitalized, but his condition remains undisclosed. After the police arrived at the scene, Jones reportedly barricaded himself inside his home on Rockfish Road. As detectives and emergency medical services attended to the victims, the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office Special Emergency Response Team and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol were called in to negotiate with Jones.
Eventually, the police managed to detain Jones and transported him to the hospital for a medical evaluation. On December 23, a warrant was issued for his arrest, and he was subsequently booked into the Hoke County Detention Center. Hoke County is located approximately 100 miles east of Charlotte.
According to local CBS affiliate WNCN, the bail bondsmen were at Jones’ residence due to his failure to appear in court in October. Jones had previously been charged with five felonies, including violating a domestic violence protective order, communicating threats, and eluding arrest. Hoke County Captain Daniel Shipp informed WNCN that Hall was attempting to assist Jones when the altercation occurred. Jones then allegedly attacked one of the bail bondsmen with an ax.
Jones made his initial court appearance on December 27, facing charges of second-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and two counts of assault inflicting serious injury with intent to kill. He is currently being held on a $1.78 million bond.