(Dallas, TX) – Ripley County Prosecutor Ric Hertel and Ripley County Victims’ Coordinator Allen Beneker recently presented a case study on the murder of Kristina Jones at the Conference on Crimes Against Women held in Dallas, Texas.
In January 2021, Ms. Jones was murdered by her boyfriend, Jordan Knudson, in Holton.
For approximately two years prior, Jones and Knudson had a dating relationship where Ms. Jones was subjected to numerous instances of physical, mental, and psychological abuse by Knudson.
The abuse ultimately led to Knudson shooting Ms. Jones three times in the face with a .410 shotgun in the bathtub of a trailer near Holton.
In April 2022, Knudson was convicted of murdering Kristina Jones following a lengthy jury trial in Ripley County.
Hertel and Beneker’s presentation titled, No Direct Evidence, No Problem: State vs Jordan Knudson, was a case study that walked the audience through the case of Kristina Jones’ murder by Jordan Knudson.
The presentation outlined the events leading up to Ms. Jones’ murder, the investigation by the Indiana State Police, the charging decision, pre-trial hearings, and the jury trial.
This presentation covered many of the traditional power and control hallmarks of domestic violence relationships that were exhibited in the case.
Further, it covered a number of evidentiary issues the prosecution team addressed throughout the case including the admissibility of multiple prior bad acts by Knudson, Jones’ medical records from prior abuse, and a protective order Jones filed against Knudson.
Additionally, the presentation explained how the use of expert testimony from multiple disciplines helped counteract some of the significant witness credibility issues involved in the case.
The workshop underscored the volatility and escalation in domestic violence relationships with an underlying goal of urging law enforcement and prosecutors to charge and try these difficult cases even when they are based solely on circumstantial evidence.
The Conference on Crimes Against Women (CCAW) is the national clearinghouse of best practices for law enforcement, prosecuting attorneys, advocates, medical personnel, emergency telecommunicators, probation and parole officers, and others who work in the area of crimes against women.
Recognizing that these crimes are unique in nature, CCAW provides the most up-to-date, relevant, and effective training and techniques that exist to battle this epidemic.
The 4-day conference (May 22-25) hosted in Dallas, Texas, had over 3,000 attendees from all 50 states and 7 foreign countries where they were presented with the best practices to hold perpetrators accountable while providing justice for the victims.
If you or someone you know is in need of Domestic Violence services, please contact Safe Passage at their 24/7 Toll-Free Helpline at 1-877-733-1990 or go to www.safepassageinc.org.
(Ripley County Prosecutors Office press release)
