Man sentenced to life for murder of Sandy Springs grandmother

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. - A Decatur man will spend the rest of his life in prison for the 2018 murder of a 71-year-old Sandy Springs grandmother.

On Tuesday, a jury found James Christopher Jones guilty on all counts of the murder of Kay Thomasson.

What we know:

Thomasson was found dead around 7 p.m. on June 27, 2018, at a residence on Old Woodbine Road. A day before the two-year anniversary of the crime, authorities identified Jones as a suspect.

Jones was also responsible for taking Thomasson's 2012 Kia Sorrento, which was found days after the murder at an apartment complex in Chamblee.

Prosecutors say investigators obtained and analyzed geofencing data linking Jones to Thomasson’s home and to her vehicle. DNA found on items within the home and car matched Jones as well.

Detectives arrested Jones on July 7, 2020, after tracking him to a storage unit that he was living out of in DeKalb County.

What they're saying:

On Tuesday, just days before the anniversary of the June 27, 2018, killing, a Fulton County jury convicted James Christopher Jones, now 29, in Thomasson’s death. He was 22 at the time of the crime.

"It brings closure," said Sgt. Leon Millholland of the Sandy Springs Police Department. "It had a definite impact on the community. It hit hard."

Investigators had no suspects or persons of interest for two years. A $100,000 reward was offered in an effort to generate leads.

Despite the slow progress, detectives and analysts with Sandy Springs Police never stopped working the case.

"It did not become a cold case because our detectives and our analysts were constantly working on it," Millholland said.

The break came when crime analysts used geofencing data to connect Jones to the location of Thomasson’s home and vehicle.

"It was crucial in breaking this case open," Millholland said. "Had it not been for the work of our intelligence analysts, we still may be looking today for who committed the crime."

Jones was arrested in 2020 at age 24.

Millholland said the motive remains unclear, and the case was not tied to a domestic dispute or a robbery gone wrong.

"This was a total stranger on stranger. And the motive was—this was pure evil," he said.

The conviction and sentencing bring a measure of closure for both Thomasson’s family and the officers who worked the case.

"To hear that verdict on Tuesday—it was very emotional," Millholland said. "It brings a satisfaction that we did all that we could do to bring justice."

Millholland also credited the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office for working closely with investigators to secure the conviction.

"Our deepest condolences remain with Mrs. Thomasson’s family and loved ones as they continue to cope with this tragic loss," the Sandy Springs Police Department said in a statement on Facebook. "We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Sandy Springs Police Department detectives, intelligence analysts, and assisting officers, as well as the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office, for their tireless commitment, attention to detail, and unwavering pursuit of justice."

What's next:

After the conviction, a judge sentenced Jones to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 30 years.