Authorities in Dakota County, Minnesota, arrested 29-year-old Demarco Marquie Jones after 26-year-old Tatianna Marie Ehnes-Giles was found shot to death in their Castle Rock home on Dec. 24. The couple's two children alerted the victim's mother after hearing a loud noise, and family members found Jones with blood on his hands. Jones has been charged with second-degree intentional murder, with bail set at $2 million; he is receiving medical treatment while under arrest and is due in court on Jan. 5.
Mother of Two Shot Dead on Her 26th Birthday; Partner Arrested and Charged
GofundmeTatianna Marie Ehnes-Giles.
Authorities in Dakota County, Minnesota, say 26-year-old Tatianna Marie Ehnes-Giles was found fatally shot in her Castle Rock home on Dec. 24 — the victim's 26th birthday and Christmas Eve. Deputies arrested 29-year-old Demarco Marquie Jones in connection with her death; he faces a charge of second-degree intentional murder.
What Happened
Officers responding to the residence located Ehnes-Giles and took Jones into custody after finding him at the top of the second-floor stairs with visible blood on his hands and the back of his head. Jones was able to speak with officers and indicated there was a firearm inside a room. The couple lived upstairs with their two children while the victim's mother and brothers lived in the downstairs unit.
Family Account
According to a criminal complaint cited by local reporting, the children alerted the grandmother after hearing a loud noise; one child demonstrated the sound by banging on a wall twice and both children told the grandmother, "Daddy fell." When the grandmother went upstairs she found Jones groaning and initially saying Ehnes-Giles had shot him. The complaint alleges Jones later admitted that he had shot Ehnes-Giles. The grandmother reportedly found her daughter covered in blood with her hands held in front of her face as if protecting herself.
White Funeral Home FarmingtonTatianna Marie Ehnes-Giles
Charges, Custody and Next Steps
Jones has been charged with second-degree intentional murder. A judge set bail at $2 million. Police say Jones is receiving treatment at a hospital while under arrest and will be transferred to the county jail after medical clearance; he is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 5. It was not immediately clear whether he has retained an attorney.
Victim And Community
An online obituary describes Ehnes-Giles as a beloved mother, daughter and sister who enjoyed bonfires, the Fourth of July and joking with family. White Funeral Home in Farmington is handling arrangements, and a GoFundMe has been established to support the couple's two children.
Resources
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free, confidential and available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
Note: Details above are based on law enforcement statements and a criminal complaint. Allegations remain subject to investigation and legal proceedings.
