JACKSON CO. – Prosecutors have added additional charges and are asking for a life sentence in the case of a woman accused of working with her mother to kill her stepfather.
Harold Allen Jr., 52, of Freetown, died in December 2022. Months after his death, investigators discovered he died after drinking a root beer float tainted with anti-freeze at his home.
On October 18, 2023, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department deputies arrested 29-year-old Ashley Jones on charges of murder, felony murder, conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy resulting in death, and consumer product tampering resulting in serious bodily injury. She is being held in the Jackson County Jail without bond.
Jones’ mother, Marsha Allen, died from an apparent suicide after police questioned her about the murder.
Investigators reported Jones and Marsha Allen attempted four times to kill Allen by placing various substances in food and drink before they were ultimately successful in killing him.
New court documents include texts between Jones and her mother, indicating they poisoned Allen twice before, but he survived.
Prosecutors have added two new charges of attempted murder charges against Jones.
The investigation began after Ashley Jones’ mother, Marsha Allen, reported her home on North State Road 135 had been burglarized on September 19, 2023. Steven White and Nathaniel Kane Napier were arrested for the burglary.
According to court documents, Marsha told Lt. Adam Nicholson about a conversation White and Ashley Jones shared. In the conversation, Ashley Jones told Steven White that Marsha Allen had murdered her husband, 52-year-old Harold Allen Jr., by poisoning him. Marsha also said Ashley recruited him to burglarize Marsha’s house on North State Road 135 in Freetown.
Officers obtained text messages on Marsha’s phone between Steven White and Ashley, discussing their plan to burglarize Marsha’s home.
The following day, a detective spoke with Marsha, and she denied killing her husband and agreed to a download of her phone.
In Marsha’s cell phone, officials said there were “many text messages” starting in November 2022 between Marsha and Ashley in which they discussed killing Harold.
In one of the text messages on November 27, 2023, Marsha tells Ashley that she needs foxglove seeds. Foxgloves are poisonous plants, and death can occur if ingested. Ashley then texted Marsha that foxglove seeds are traceable.
According to medical records, including in the affidavit, Harold Allen was seen at Schneck Medical Center on November 27, 2023, with numbness of the left side of his face, also known as paresthesia. He revisited the hospital three days later with vomiting, diarrhea, fever, chills, and a gastrointestinal issue.
Officials said symptoms of foxglove poisoning include stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Police reviewed Marsha’s Google account, where they found searches for “what happens if you eat foxglove seeds,” “how much foxglove is fatal,” and “how long does foxglove take to kill you.” Documents show that these searches were made when Marsha texted Ashley, saying she needed foxglove seeds.
On Dec. 2, 2023, officials say Ashley texted Marsha Allen that she couldn’t “touch the plant.” Then, they texted each other that they would need gloves to handle the plant, and Ashley texted Marsha that she needed some “time alone to prepare the root.”
According to court documents, Marsha and Ashley decided not to use foxglove but ethylene glycol to poison and kill Harold. Ethylene glycol is an organic compound with the formula (CHâ‚‚OH)â‚‚. It is mainly used as a raw material in the manufacture of polyester fibers and for antifreeze formulations. It is an odorless, colorless, flammable, viscous liquid.
According to court documents, a detective found an order for ethylene glycol on December 13, 2023. The order was billed to Lynn Allen (Lynn is Marsha’s middle name) and shipped to a home in the 3000 block of State Road 135 in Freeman, Marsha’s home. Ashley sent the package’s tracking number to Marsha Allen the day after it was ordered. Police say Ashley lived with Marsha until sometime after Harold died.
Ashley and Marsha texted each other regarding the order, and when it arrived – “The mail is here : )” Marsha responded to her text with a heart emoji.
On December 19, 2023, the affidavit shows Marsha texting Ashley, “He’s all in for root beer floats.” In another message, Marsha texted Ashley, ” Come here.”
The following day, documents say that the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department received a report of an unconscious person on the 3000 block of State Road135. Authorities believe that Harold Allen Jr. was dead before the emergency call was placed.
When police questioned Ashley about the text where Marsha asked Ashley to “come here,” she said Marsha told her Harold was acting “drunk and loopy.” Officials said five hours passed before Marsha called an ambulance, by which time Harold Allen Jr. was already dead.
After reviewing the text messages and the order for the poison, officers searched Marsha’s home and interviewed her. She denied killing Harold Allen Jr.
On October 13, 2023, court documents show Marsha’s parents came to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and said they couldn’t contact Marsha. Deputies went to Marsha’s home and found her dead. Police said the investigation into her death is ongoing, but “suicide is suspected.”
Officers said they arrested Ashley on the burglary charge at her home in Missouri on October 3, 2023, and she stayed in custody until she was taken to Indiana and booked at the Jackson County Jail on October 16, 2023.
The next day, authorities interviewed Ashley, who told them that Marsha Allen had put the root of the foxglove into chili and a brownie. Jones said either she or Marsha ordered the foxglove, but she couldn’t remember who ordered it.
She told authorities she also ordered ethylene glycol but alleged that Marsha Allen put it in the root beer float. She said Marsha told her that Harold Allen Jr. drank the beverage.
