Marion County man arrested in Kanawha County for kidnapping, attempted first-degree murder

KANAWHA COUNTY, WV (WVNS) — A man wanted in Marion County was arrested in Kanawha County.

32-year-old Jamie Ray Jones, of Fairmont, was arrested at a house in Kelly’s Creek by the U.S. Marshals Service Southern District of West Virginia CUFFED (Cops United Felony Fugitive Enforcement Division) Task Force at around 8:30 a.m. on Monday, September 23, 2024.

According to a press release from the U.S. Marshals, Jones was wanted for kidnapping and attempted first-degree murder, as well as being wanted for accessory after the fact of murder in a separate case.

The press release stated that Jones, as well as other people, reportedly used a gun to forcefully kidnap a man on April 27, 2023 from a house in the Morgantown area of Monongalia County. After they kidnapped the man, those involved in the kidnapping allegedly threatened to kill the man while they searched the Fairmont area for the man’s brother.

The people involved found, and shot out of a car at the man’s brother around part of Maple Avenue Extension. One of the people involved in the shooting was shot in the incident, and the kidnapping victim was able to escape from the car.

On May 5, 2023, warrants were issued for Jones’ arrest.

According to the press release, during a different incident Jones reportedly helped a man who committed first-degree murder on March 23, 2023. The man who committed first-degree murder allegedly contacted Jones for help getting away from the area where the murder was committed.

Jones not only reportedly told the man to leave the area and go to Ohio, where the man was later arrested by members of law enforcement, but Jones supposedly also told the man that law enforcement was at the murder scene.

The incident resulted in warrants being issued for Jones’ arrest on May 3, 2023, and on May 9, 2023, the U.S. Marshals Mountain State Fugitive Task Force was asked to help find him.

The press release stated that those investigating the incidents spend hours trying to find Jones, including following leads in at least five states.

On Monday, September 23, 2024, investigators followed a lead that led them to the home of one of Jones’ associated in southern West Virginia.

When members of law enforcement arrested Jones, he reportedly tried to run from the house. However, additional members of law enforcement stopped Jones from escaping, where the press release stated he was arrested without issues.

Agencies who were involved in Jones’ arrest included the U.S. Marshals Service Southern District of West Virginia CUFFED Task Force, the Kanawha County Sheriffs Office, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT).

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