Mary Elizabeth Laven, 65, was shot to death at her home on the family property in Fountain, Florida, on March 4, 2020. Born August 3, 1955, she had worked many years in the service industry, retired after several years in retail service, and enjoyed crochet, ceramics, and animals. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mark Laven, and is survived by her sons Stephen B. Jones and Jason Jones, and three grandchildren.

According to authorities, Mary was shot three times inside her home by her son, Jason Kenneth Jones, who then set her house on fire. He reportedly pursued his girlfriend and her minor child as they fled, shooting and injuring the girlfriend in the hip; the girlfriend escaped and hid in a nearby residence. A bystander, Djuna Marlene Newman, was shot twice in the face and died at the scene.

Jason Kenneth Jones was located by Bay County Sheriff’s Office deputies after a manhunt and has been charged in connection with the shootings and the fire. What details about motive or the sequence of events remain unclear to readers who followed the initial reports; anyone with information about Mary, her family, or that day is asked to come forward.