By Hattie Brown Garrow The Virginian-Pilot May 24, 2012 SUFFOLK When 31-year-old Katina Jones was found strangled in her apartmentin November 2010, police set up a Facebook page to track down theman they thought might know something about the slaying. Wednesday, that man - Larry Nicholas O'Neal - was sentenced to 35years in prison, with another 20 years suspended, for second-degreemurder and other charges. O'Neal, 34, claimed that Jones' death wasan accident resulting from an argument gone awry. Jones was a shy, softspoken woman who worked two jobs and had an8-year-old daughter she adored, family members said duringWednesday's sentencing hearing.
"Everybody loved her," George Jones said of his daughter."She was just like I was: quiet. She was like a carbon copy ofme." Katina Jones and O'Neal were former classmates who reconnected onFacebook, according to court testimony. O'Neal lived in Texas butplanned a trip back to Hampton Roads in 2010. Jones offered to pickhim up at the bus station.
The pair became "more than friends" during the visit,defense attorney Gregory Matthews said in court. On the morning ofNov. 7, 2010, they got into an argument in her apartment thatturned physical, O'Neal said Wednesday. "When I grabbed her, I put my arms around her neck," hesaid. O'Neal said Jones was breathing when he left with her car andcredit cards. Smart Cards Access Control
Using a pseudonym, he boarded a bus bound forHouston, where his oldest child lives. He said he got off the busin Roanoke when he learned through Facebook and a text message thatJones was dead. Believing O'Neal had used Jones' credit cards but unsure of hiswhereabouts, Suffolk police turned to social media for tips. Theycreated a "Catch Katina's Killer" Facebook page thatattracted more than 1,300 fans and helped spread word about thecase. O'Neal turned himself in to Roanoke police 12 days after her death.In March, he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, grand larceny,credit card theft and two counts of credit card fraud, one of whichwas dropped Wednesday. China Access Control Card Readers
Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Will Jamerson requested the 35-yearsentence, noting O'Neal's criminal convictions in three otherstates. Jamerson also noted that he didn't admit to the killing atfirst. Matthews, arguing that O'Neal had accepted responsibility andexpressed remorse, asked for leniency. "This is a tragedy. China Smart Cards Access Control
There's no question about that,"Matthews said. "But, judge, he didn't go over there with theintent to harm her." Circuit Court Judge William R. Savage III also ordered O'Neal topay $5,000 in restitution. Hattie Brown Garrow, 757-222-5562, hattie.brown@pilotonline.com.
"Everybody loved her," George Jones said of his daughter."She was just like I was: quiet. She was like a carbon copy ofme." Katina Jones and O'Neal were former classmates who reconnected onFacebook, according to court testimony. O'Neal lived in Texas butplanned a trip back to Hampton Roads in 2010. Jones offered to pickhim up at the bus station.
The pair became "more than friends" during the visit,defense attorney Gregory Matthews said in court. On the morning ofNov. 7, 2010, they got into an argument in her apartment thatturned physical, O'Neal said Wednesday. "When I grabbed her, I put my arms around her neck," hesaid. O'Neal said Jones was breathing when he left with her car andcredit cards. Smart Cards Access Control
Using a pseudonym, he boarded a bus bound forHouston, where his oldest child lives. He said he got off the busin Roanoke when he learned through Facebook and a text message thatJones was dead. Believing O'Neal had used Jones' credit cards but unsure of hiswhereabouts, Suffolk police turned to social media for tips. Theycreated a "Catch Katina's Killer" Facebook page thatattracted more than 1,300 fans and helped spread word about thecase. O'Neal turned himself in to Roanoke police 12 days after her death.In March, he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, grand larceny,credit card theft and two counts of credit card fraud, one of whichwas dropped Wednesday. China Access Control Card Readers
Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Will Jamerson requested the 35-yearsentence, noting O'Neal's criminal convictions in three otherstates. Jamerson also noted that he didn't admit to the killing atfirst. Matthews, arguing that O'Neal had accepted responsibility andexpressed remorse, asked for leniency. "This is a tragedy. China Smart Cards Access Control
There's no question about that,"Matthews said. "But, judge, he didn't go over there with theintent to harm her." Circuit Court Judge William R. Savage III also ordered O'Neal topay $5,000 in restitution. Hattie Brown Garrow, 757-222-5562, hattie.brown@pilotonline.com.