Driver Who Killed Maurice Jones Is Sorry
April 3, 2009 by Morbid
Maurice Jones
League City, Texas - The man pictured above is Maurice Jones, 34. He was walking along Dickinson Avenue after finishing his shift at McDonalds. Someone driving on the other side of the street lost control of their car and struck Maurice, killing him instantly. But even though the driver has yet to be found, it is all good, as the driver left a note by Maurice’s body apologizing for killing him.
The note read “I’m sorry,” and “I have a family.” But that is no consolation for Maurice’s family, a family that includes his 11-year-old daughter. “I think it’s a coward,“ said Jones’ mother, Roberta Jones. “You should admit what you did wrong because eventually it will catch up with you.“
Maurice was killed sometime after 10 p.m. on SaturdaySaturday reviews
, his body found early SundaySunday reviews morning. The vehicle was traveling in the same direction Maurice was walking, swerved across the northbound lane, struck Jones, went through a ditch before ending up 40 yards from where it left the road.
After examining the 20-word message written in ink, League City police believe the driver is a female between the ages of 25 and 40. “We believe this person is very remorseful and dealing with a lot of grief,” said Detective Scott Aldridge. If you have any information on this, phone Detective Scott Aldridge at 281-338-4174.
I am not condoning the driver’s actions at all, so don’t twist these words around…but if the driver was drunk – leaving the scene may have been morally wrong, but legally the smartest thing they could have done. If the DUI laws in that state are the same as a lot of others, if you hit and kill someone one while impaired, the penalty is far, far stiffer than had you just hit and killed someone. It is why a lot of drunks leave the scene, only to return back sober when it is impossible to prove they had been under the influence of any substance at the time of the accident.
My bet is that this person will simply turn themselves in, effectively owning up to the accident without having to admit to any activity that could lead to DUI charges, and a much stiffer penalty. I hate to say this, but with the laws set up that way, you are just asking for this type of reaction.
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9:57 am on April 3rd, 2009
I’m in agreement with you re the DUI laws, making this an inevitable situation. It seems to me that someone who was totally shit-faced wouldn’t have the wherewithall to write an apology note, though. How do they know exactly how this accident happened (in such detail as described) if there are no witnesses? Obviously, the driver spent some time at the scene, writing the note. This one’s a stumper.
10:00 am on April 3rd, 2009
Texas has the worst drivers and are the meanest people in the country. Don’t count on that person turning themselves in. I will bet that person will be caught by being turned in. Trust me, when they say they’re sorry here, that is IT in they’re mind (case closed.) I really believe this person is just a sorry Texan who believes sorry is gonna cut it. I can’t wait till he/she gets caught. I am looking forward to hearing “I’m sorry” on TV followed by buckets of tears.
10:02 am on April 3rd, 2009
Well, of course the only reason why I am assuming they were drunk is simply because if it was an accident…I think most people would have just called 911 and tried to help. Also, you don’t have to be shit-faced to either drive or write a note…my guess is that if they had any alcohol at all, they figured why take the chance?
Personally, I would rather have a leaving the scene charge over a possible 1st-degree-murder charge.
As for the actual accident details, all it takes is tire marks to figure out what happened, and it looks like (from the details they know) that’s all they did.
10:04 am on April 3rd, 2009
Mean people don’t take the time to write an apology letter. Scared people do.
10:06 am on April 3rd, 2009
And this case gets even weirder…while it is a horrible way to die and I can’t imagine leaving someone wounded like that on the side of the road.
First this story comes out, making major headlines based on the callousness of it. And then people start saying he was acquitted for murdering his roommate/girlfriend, hiding her body under the bed, which was eventually discovered by her 12 yr old son. Granted he was acquitted but they are saying he actually confessed to the crime but b/c it is unclear as to whether or not he waived the right to an attorney he got off. I was skeptical at first and then they next day the came out with this story:
http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=fcc0509fb0fb643d
Except this story wasn’t on the front page.
10:07 am on April 3rd, 2009
Morbid, do you think the drunk would take the time and write a letter and take the chance of getting caught there while at the scene? I would think a drunk would just flee. My oppinion.
10:10 am on April 3rd, 2009
Ok then. In your opinion, why did they decide to stay and leave a note saying they are sorry and that they have a family to think about? Because they are mean?
10:19 am on April 3rd, 2009
Yes. I think it is mean to leave a note, knowing it will be read on the news. He had a family too. What is the note, like a thropy? I don’t think this person is really sorry at all, they are just a sorry person. Like I said, just my opinion.
10:19 am on April 3rd, 2009
I just read the details on that case. Not much to say on it, as it can go either way. Either he got away with murder on a technicality, or he was rightfully cleared of the charges.I see the murdered woman’s family is making the rounds, though. Karma and all that.
10:20 am on April 3rd, 2009
Jury, no one is saying it was “nice” to leave a note. I am saying that if they were drunk, leaving the scene was smart (legally). The act of leaving a note could be a big sign of someone remorseful of killing the person, but afraid of the possible charges of doing so.
I would bet the driver already hired a lawyer.
10:21 am on April 3rd, 2009
Morbid,
(Sorry, I didn’t address it to anyone’s attention but thought it was an interesting piece of info.)
And this case gets even weirder…while it is a horrible way to die and I can’t imagine leaving someone wounded like that on the side of the road.
First this story comes out, making major headlines based on the callousness of it. And then people start saying he was acquitted for murdering his roommate/girlfriend, hiding her body under the bed, which was eventually discovered by her 12 yr old son. Granted he was acquitted but they are saying he actually confessed to the crime but b/c it is unclear as to whether or not he waived the right to an attorney he got off. I was skeptical at first and then they next day the came out with this story:
http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=fcc0509fb0fb643d
Except this story wasn’t on the front page.
Jury – I’ll agree we have some pretty bad drivers but the mean people aren’t usually the natives.
10:30 am on April 3rd, 2009
JessicaR, try saying you hate Texas in public here. I promise you you will lose teeth.
10:34 am on April 3rd, 2009
It seems like you have already said it, I don’t see any of your teeth missing.
And really, I think you are the first person to say that, so I have no idea where you are drawing your conclusions from
10:36 am on April 3rd, 2009
Jury, I was born and raised in Texas.
10:38 am on April 3rd, 2009
So was I. And I haven’t popped any of his teeth out. And I believe you are correct about most are not natives of Texas. I believe he may have had one too many bad experiences, but if his attitude comes off as bad as it does in here, I wouldn’t doubt why they treated him the way they did.
10:38 am on April 3rd, 2009
Unpopular as it may be – I hope the mother of his child feels guilt and remorse for a long, long time for not allowing them to have a relationship. Whether she believes he killed that woman or not – he was cleared. She had no right to keep his daughter from him. 4 years? Damn.
I hope this person does come forward soon. For the families peace of mind – as well as their own.
RIP Maurice.
10:54 am on April 3rd, 2009
I had a girlfriend in High School who hit a car, got out, saw the person was hurt, panicked, and left a note, went home (about 6 blocks away), and got her mom. Her mom called the police and ambulance and then marched her daughter right down to the police station. They pressed charges of leaving the scene of a crime, but that was all. It was an accident, and she was a new driver. Although she shouldn’t have left, she was completely remorseful and terrified. Maybe this was just a young driver who didn’t know what to do. Still they should have called 911 anonomously. (not that that’s right either)
10:56 am on April 3rd, 2009
Yes, and posters with the screen name Jury are the biggest idiots on the planet. Makes about as much reasoned sense as your comment. :eyeroll:
No, we’ll just ask you to go back to where ever it is you came from. You know, that place that was so grand you left it?
Really, no one is chaining you down here I promise you.
R
10:56 am on April 3rd, 2009
P.S. Texas transplant here, and I think almost everyone I have met in the 20 years I have been here have been great! The friendliest people I have ever met. (Try living on the East Coast if you want snobs and heartless cruelty)
That said, Texas does breed alot of Serial Killers.
10:57 am on April 3rd, 2009
Um, they respond negatively to something offensive to them and that makes them mean? Well, gosh – I guess I’m pretty mean, too.
Anyway – I’m not all that familiar with Texas law, but I believe the only way vehicular homicide qualifies for a murder charge is if it’s a felony murder charge, as in this homicide took place during the commission of a felony. They’ve got a “DWI felony repetition” law which makes it an automatic felony to drive drunk if you’ve already been convicted a few times, which would have qualified her for felony murder had she been apprehended. It seems like that’s the most common cause of murder being applied to vehicular homicide in Texas.
But I came across another story about a man who was charged with murder in TX for hitting a police chief while drunk and failing to render aid afterward, choosing instead to flee on foot. It was unclear as to whether or not his intoxication made it murder, or if it was his failure to render aid. If it’s the latter, this chick could still be charged with felony murder, I would imagine.
It’ll be interesting to see if she turns herself in. It’s been almost a week and the cops admit to having nothing but the note to go on. If this was me (which it never would be because I’m both a sober driver and a noble individual), I’d probably let it ride, at this point.
I’d also like to hear more about the circumstances under which he was acquitted for his roommate’s murder. If he was guilty and acquitted on a technicality, I wonder how that would change her case? Potentially, pretty dramatically. I mean, if we come to find out she wiped a monster off the face of the earth, I’d expect to see much less pressure for her to come forward to begin with, or a more sympathetic DA’s office if she were to come forward.
1:19 pm on April 3rd, 2009
Since there was a few hours between the accident and the discovery could she have gone back and left the note? Maybe she left the note then called 911 to report the body on the road? She can easily say she panicked, that note will be huge for her defense.
2:14 pm on April 3rd, 2009
Where is CSI when you need them? Fingerprints are easy to find on paper, aren’t they? Since Maurice (R.I.P.) had just gotten off a shift, that would make it late afternoon or around sunset, right? This is when some folks START drinking; this person was likely on their way to a party or just beginning to ‘unwind’ on their way home. If that was the case, the person wasn’t legally drunk, but the presence of alcohol had presented a whole new set of circumstances.
2:23 pm on April 3rd, 2009
That Galveston news site and the comments on it were quite interesting…….
Someone suggested that he might have been killed on purpose and that the note was a red herring to deflect suspicion from the woman he was suspected of killing’s family.
Then Tabatha, who appears to be the daughter of the murdered woman, weighed in with what goes around comes around, karma, yadda-yadda.
And these aren’t really that many comments, either. Quite concentrated, it is. Well worth a read.
2:25 pm on April 3rd, 2009
I thought the story said that he came off his shift at 10 pm?
2:43 pm on April 3rd, 2009
So sad and my prayers are only for Maurice’s Family and to the one who hit, killed and ran, COWARD and I hope you cannot sleep at all at night.
Sorry, But hey, honestly I would never drink and drive I WILL BET MY OWN LIFE ON THAT, NEVER EVER THEY HAVE TAXI’S, Sober friends, ect.to call ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE FOR DRINKING AND DRIVING NOT ONE EXCUSE
2:58 pm on April 3rd, 2009
Heck, how did I miss that? Still, the fingerprints on the paper… should be easy for them to find, I’m thinking.
3:00 pm on April 3rd, 2009
Yes, but if the person has never committed a crime, it’d be kinda hard to find them
4:16 pm on April 3rd, 2009
Not necessarily. If the person was within their right mind enough to leave a note, they probably also knew enough to avoid leaving prints. Of course, paper can be difficult to lift prints from to begin with, depending on how textured it is, what the conditions of the environment were and how much time had passed since the print had been left.
That said, prints don’t help much unless you’ve got someone to match them to. Statistically, a female with a family between the ages of 25 and 40 is not going to have a criminal record in which prints were taken.
4:28 pm on April 3rd, 2009
But if she, like me, worked for any government agency (VA Hospital) or financial institution (Raymond James), she would have prints on file. And there are many more jobs that now require printing.
10:42 pm on April 3rd, 2009
Morbid, it’s why the stae of Florida upped the amount of time you can get for a hit and run from 15 years to 30. THe way the law is now, it’s smarter to just stay at the scene drunk than to flee
11:46 am on April 4th, 2009
Wow. He/she is sorry? Well, then, I guess that makes it all better! Everyone, calm down, the person is sorry! Everyone can just go back to their own lives, this person is sorry, has a family and can’t afford to go to jail.
I’m actually being sarcastic. That stupid idiot who hit and killed him should have stayed at the scene, called for help and taken whatever punishment was waiting for him/her. It would have been the honest, honorable thing to do. And more people might have actually been sympathetic to his/her plight. I know I would have, not that it matters. The person who did this is selfish, pure and simple. It’s one thing to make a mistake, but not to own that mistake is cowardly. So he/she has a family? So did the man who was run down on the side of the road! Selfish, stupid coward. (The person who ran the man over, not the man.)
Perhaps I’m also a little biased when it comes to hit and runs. There are several occasions where I’ve nearly been run down by a selfish, thoughtless, stupid motorist, some drunk and some not. I’ve sat by a stray dog that got hit by one of these selfish people and held its head in my lap while it died. It was one of the most emotionally painful experiences I’ve ever felt. And the asshole who hit it, propelling it 20 feet in the air, didn’t even stop to view his handiwork. That was only a dog, I can’t imagine the devastation I would have felt if it had been a human. I doubt that selfish bastard would have stopped then, either. This posting just made me think of that.
12:25 pm on April 4th, 2009
Printing is indeed much more common now than it used to be; criminals aren’t the only ones who have prints in the system. Heck, I fall into the 25-to-40 age range (I’m 28) and I got printed as a kid for one of those safety programs. If I committed a crime now, those prints would surely turn up on a search. (I’ve also been printed as a government contractor.)
1:38 pm on April 4th, 2009
Would the fact that you have grown since you were a kid not make comparison of the prints difficult?
9:09 pm on April 4th, 2009
There is only one copy of those safety program prints, they are given to kids to bring home right then and there. I doubt they’d be the same anyway.
10:19 pm on April 4th, 2009
Any fingerprints on the paper? Was there any activity going on from the direction she was coming? Can a cell phone be pinged in that area at that time without knowing the number?
2:49 pm on April 6th, 2009
This is a weird case. To have left a note does mean remorse, but was she/he scared or drunk? Either way it is very cowardly and I hope they get caught. Maurice had a family too, that I am sure misses him very much! I’m sure they are sorry too, sorry it happened.
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