JACKSON CO. – A Jackson County woman has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for her part in the 2022 poisoning death of her stepfather, Harold Allen. The conviction of Ashley Jones, 29, concludes a disturbing case that involved multiple poisoning attempts and thousands of incriminating text messages.
In a plea deal on August 7, 2025, Jones pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder (aiding, inducing, or causing)—the plea agreement set a sentencing range of 45 to 50 years. On Tuesday, Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Richard Poynter imposed the maximum 50-year sentence.
A Calculated and Heinous Crime
The investigation began on September 19, 2023, after a reported burglary at the home of Harold Allen’s widow, Marsha Allen, who was also Ashley Jones’s mother. During the burglary investigation, detectives with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department uncovered evidence linking Marsha and Jones to the poisoning death of Harold Allen in December 2022.
Investigators found thousands of text messages between the two women detailing their plot. The messages reveal that Marsha and Jones had made at least four previous attempts to poison Harold Allen with various substances.
According to court documents, the two initially discussed using toxins from dried Pong Pong seeds and hemlock. Their text messages show they even researched poisonous plants, including foxglove, and the symptoms of ingestion. Medical records corroborated their attempts, showing Harold Allen was seen at a local medical center with symptoms consistent with foxglove poisoning.
A Chilling Confession
The text message trail eventually led investigators to a final, successful poisoning attempt. On October 17, 2023, Jones confessed to deputies that she had ordered ethylene glycol, a toxic chemical used in antifreeze, off the internet. Marsha Allen then mixed the chemical into a root beer float, which Harold Allen consumed.
Shortly after being questioned by police, and before she could be charged, Marsha Allen died by suicide.
Jackson County Prosecutor Lynsey N. Fleetwood described the crime as “calculated and heinous” and thanked law enforcement for their tireless efforts. The family of Harold Allen also expressed gratitude for the work of detectives, with his sister-in-law, Samantha Allen, stating, “Nothing can give us back the time we lost with Harold, but with the conclusion of sentencing, we choose to move forward focusing on his life and our memories, and not on the cruelty and greed that led to his death.”
Jones was arrested on October 18, 2023, and has been held in the Jackson County Jail without bond since.
