THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 23, 1996 TAG: 9605230348
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LYNN WALTZ AND CINDY CLAYTON, STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 111 lines
The parents of Tobin Jones hoped against hope that the body found in their son's former home Saturday was not his wife. If it was, they believed officials would declare the death a suicide by sleeping pills, not murder.
So they were deeply shocked Wednesday when police identified the body as Megan Jones and officially declared her death a homicide.
Despite Tobin Jones' history of mental problems due to stress, his parents said, they do not believe their son is capable of murder.
``We just learned about Megan, and it was a terrible shock to us. We were very fond of her,'' Frances Jones said Wednesday. ``I don't believe it's possible, even if he were ill. We think there's another explanation. We don't know the truth and I don't know if anyone does.''
Police believe Megan Jones, 43, was killed around Mother's Day and her body lay wrapped in a sheet and clothing in a second-floor bedroom of the Delaware Avenue home for about a week before she was found.
Tobin Jones, 36, a prominent psychiatrist and medical director of the city's Community Services Board, was taken into custody at the house Saturday as he mowed the grass. He was later charged with murder.
Police used dental records to identify the body. Officials would not release the cause of death determined by an autopsy.
Jones had a nervous breakdown in March, his parents said, which led to a two-week hospitalization and a leave of absence from his job. He also split up with his wife in March and, police charge, began stalking a woman the couple knew from their performances in local theater.
Friends in the theater reported a behavior change around the same time, saying the normally gentle and quiet Jones had become belligerent and rebellious during rehearsals.
``We thought we would be able to get him help in New Mexico and we just weren't able to,'' his father, Bill Jones, said. ``Sometimes with a chemical imbalance, they level off with treatment, but this time it just didn't work.''
Jones' mother said her son's recent problems began when he had to move his office. It had been located next to the abortion clinic that was fired into last year. He was ``under a lot of pressure at work and wasn't able to sleep,'' she said.
Jones had had mental problems once before, his parents said, while he was in medical school and also couldn't sleep. Their son was born in Texas, raised in Alaska and attended Rice University and University of Michigan, they said.
Jones was arrested on the stalking charge after his wife had been killed, but before her body was found. He was in custody for two days last week, then released on home arrest Friday. He escaped from an electronic monitoring system Friday night, spent the night at a local inn, then went to the home where the body still lay in their home Saturday morning to mow the lawn. There he was taken into custody for questioning.
Jones appeared briefly Wednesday in General District Court. He had not shaved in several days and walked stiffly, holding his arms close to his chest.
In contrast to earlier court appearances in which Jones was so rude he was cited for contempt of court, this time Jones was respectful.
Jones' parents can't understand why police arrested their son. They visited him briefly Tuesday and were afraid he will not receive medications or a psychiatric evaluation.
``We didn't say anything about the case that might upset him. We waited for him to do the talking,'' his father said. ``We're just trying to wrap up his affairs.''
The affairs include three pending contracts to purchase houses, all signed since Jones separated from his wife and moved out of their home in March. All three, like his former home on Delaware Avenue, were near the water.
Jones' parents said they believed Megan was upset by their son's mental problems and the marriage breakup. She had gone to New Mexico to help with his hospitalization.
``I think the cause of the marriage breakup was the nervous breakdown in March. . . ,'' the mother said. ``I think she was depressed.''
Megan had also received a call in March from a woman she knew in theater. The woman told her that Jones was stalking her and giving her unwanted gifts and cards. The woman also called Jones' parents to talk with them about his behavior.
It is not known whether Megan Jones confronted her husband. However, court papers show that the stalked woman sent Jones a registered letter asking him to leave her alone. He signed for it May 13, the same day police believe Megan Jones was killed.
Despite the problems, Megan Jones was never fearful of Tobin, his parents said. ``I called her a number of times and she always said everything was fine,'' Frances Jones said. ``But I wondered if she was fine. She was seeing a doctor and was on medication all the time.''
Megan Jones' friends said she wasn't one to talk about her personal life to many people.
``She was a very proper woman, very sweet and kind, but reserved,'' said Carol Loria, who worked with her at the Little Theatre of Norfolk. ``She didn't complain a lot. . .
``I can't imagine anyone wanting to kill her,'' she said. ``She's going to be missed.''
Ken Pope, Megan's stepfather, said the family would prefer not to comment on Wednesday's developments. MEMO: Staff writer Larry W. Brown contributed to this story. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos
COURTESY THE LITTLE THEATRE OF NORFOLK
Police identified the body in the Jones home as Megan Jones, Tobin's
wife.
HUY NGUYEN/The Virginian-Pilot
In Wednesday's court appearance, Tobin Jones was quiet and walked
stiffly. This contrasted with an earlier appearance where he was
held in contempt for his behavior.
The suspect's parents, Frances and Bill Jones, believe the death
could have been a suicide. Despite their son's history of mental
problems, they say he could not have committed murder.
KEYWORDS: MURDER ARREST by CNB