Man Sentenced to Life Without Parole for 2018 Sandy Springs Murder

After years of investigation, James Christopher Jones was found guilty on all counts Tuesday, June 17, 2025, for the murder of Mrs. Kay Thomasson, which occurred at her Old Woodbine Road residence on June 27, 2018. Following his conviction, Jones was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 30 years.

The verdict marks the culmination of a complex and intensive investigation by the Sandy Springs Police Department that spanned several years and involved thousands of hours of dedicated police work. Detectives identified Jones as the suspect just one day before the two-year anniversary of the crime. He was subsequently arrested on July 7, 2020, in DeKalb County, where he had been living in a storage unit.

Key breakthroughs in the case were attributed to the work of Sandy Springs Police Department intelligence analysts. Their efforts led to the acquisition and analysis of geofencing data, which conclusively linked Jones to Mrs. Thomasson’s residence and to her abandoned vehicle, which had been stolen from the crime scene. Further forensic evidence, including DNA found on items within the residence and vehicle, provided a definitive match to Jones.

The Sandy Springs Police Department extended its deepest condolences to Mrs. Thomasson’s family and loved ones, acknowledging their continued coping with this tragic loss. The department also expressed sincere gratitude to its 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.”