Teens indicted on capital murder charges

Published 1:49 pm Thursday, October 26, 2017

Two teens accused in the robbery and beating death of a man in Madison-annexed Limestone County were formally indicted last week by a Limestone County grand jury, records show.

Jakobe Isaiah Carter, 18, of 1003 25th Ave., Phenix City, and Arron Raynard Jones, 17, of 2001 12th Ave. N., Birmingham, were indicted Oct. 18 on charges of capital murder and second-degree burglary. The capital murder charges were levied because the victim died during the commission of first-degree robbery. Both have applied for youthful offender status, but a hearing on the matter has not been scheduled.

The teens are accused of murdering 61-year-old Van Johnson of Riverdale, Georgia, behind the Publix on County Line Road on the night of Monday, Aug. 14. Johnson was part of a crew performing construction work at the store.

Madison police believe the teens approached Johnson with the intention of robbing him. Police said Johnson was assaulted and died at the scene from his injuries.

Carter and Jones had run away from Sequel TSI the morning of Aug. 14. Sequel TSI, also known as Three Springs, is a juvenile detention facility on Browns Ferry Road in Madison.

They were found the next morning after an exhaustive search by local and state police agencies.

The teens have been in the Limestone County Jail since their arrest. Jones is being represented by public defenders Garry Clem and Dan Totten. Carter is being represented by Harlan Mitchell and Patricia Kay Farmer.