• Hamilton County prosecutor says modern forensic testing ruled Jones out as suspect
• Jones freed in 2022 after judge found prosecutors withheld relevant evidence from defense
• Victim’s hepatitis diagnosis became key factor in dismissal decision after three decades

CINCINNATI, OH (TDR) — Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich dismissed murder charges Friday against a man who spent more than a quarter-century on death row, declaring she lacks confidence that Elwood Jones killed the victim in a 1994 hotel robbery case. Jones had maintained his innocence throughout 27 years of incarceration before a judge granted him a new trial in December 2022.

The prosecutor characterized the dismissal as an extraordinary step following months of intensive evidence review, trial paperwork examination, and court filing analysis. Pillich stated the available evidence fails to support accusations that Jones committed the crime, making any prosecution attempt futile. Jones was originally convicted of aggravated murder, robbery, and burglary in the beating death of 67-year-old Rhoda Nathan from Toms River, New Jersey, at a Blue Ash hotel where he worked.

Modern Forensics Prove Innocence

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The dismissal hinged significantly on modern forensic testing that ruled Jones out as a suspect. A coroner’s report revealed Nathan had Hepatitis B, an extremely contagious bloodborne disease. Contemporary medical experts testified that Jones never contracted the virus despite allegedly committing a violent beating death, effectively eliminating him as the perpetrator according to prosecutor statements.

“I am not convinced that Mr. Jones killed Rhoda Nathan.”

Judge Leslie Ghiz granted Jones a new trial in 2022 after concluding prosecutors had failed to turn over relevant evidence to defense attorneys decades earlier. The judge also excluded testimony from a now-deceased investigator whose evidence had been central to the original conviction. Jones was released shortly after that ruling while legal proceedings continued through appellate courts.

Prosecutorial Appeals Rejected

Pillich’s predecessor Melissa Powers had appealed both the new trial grant and the investigator testimony exclusion. The prosecutor’s office lost both appeals, though the Ohio Supreme Court sided with prosecutors last week on a separate procedural matter involving proper legal processes for appealing certain cases. That ruling affects prosecutor offices statewide but did not change the underlying evidence problems in Jones’ case.

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The comprehensive review process involved both Pillich and her first assistant prosecutor conducting separate evidence analyses before comparing findings. This dual-review methodology helped ensure thoroughness in evaluating a case where a man spent nearly three decades facing execution for a crime modern science suggests he did not commit.

Conviction Integrity Unit Created

Pillich announced plans to establish a conviction integrity unit that will review evidence, research potential wrongful convictions, and address unjust sentencing. The prosecutor acknowledged such a unit might have reached the dismissal decision much sooner had it existed years ago. Jones’ case represents one of Ohio’s longest death row incarcerations before exoneration.

How many other wrongful convictions remain undiscovered in cases predating modern forensic capabilities?

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