Authorities in Minnesota have arrested a 29-year-old man in connection with the fatal shooting of his girlfriend, a mother of two who was killed inside her home on Christmas Eve — the same day she turned 26.
Tatianna Marie Ehnes-Giles was found dead inside her bedroom on Wednesday, Dec. 24, after deputies from the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call at a residence in Castle Rock, Minnesota. The Dakota County Attorney’s Office confirmed the arrest in a statement released this week.
Demarco Marquie Jones, who lived with Ehnes-Giles and their two children, has been charged in connection with her death.
When deputies arrived at the home, Jones was standing at the top of the staircase leading to the second floor, according to authorities. Officers observed blood on his hands and on the back of his head. He was able to speak with police and told them that a firearm was located inside one of the rooms upstairs.
Ehnes-Giles and Jones lived on the second floor of the house with their children, while her mother and brothers resided on the lower level.
According to a criminal complaint referenced by the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Ehnes-Giles’ mother — who placed the emergency call — learned what had happened after being alerted by one of her grandchildren.
The child ran downstairs in distress after hearing a loud noise upstairs. To explain what they heard, the child demonstrated the sound by striking the wall twice, the complaint said. Both children then told their grandmother that “Daddy fell,” prompting her to go upstairs to investigate.
When she reached the second floor, she found Jones lying on the floor, groaning. He allegedly told her that Ehnes-Giles had shot him. However, according to the complaint, Jones later admitted that he had shot Ehnes-Giles.
The woman then discovered her daughter inside the bedroom, bleeding heavily. Ehnes-Giles was found with her hands raised in front of her face, a position investigators believe suggested she was trying to shield herself at the time of the shooting.
Authorities initially investigated the incident as a possible attempted murder-suicide, according to previous reporting by KSTP. The most recent statement from the Dakota County Attorney’s Office did not reference that theory.
Ehnes-Giles was remembered in an online obituary as a devoted mother, daughter, and sister. She was described as someone who enjoyed spending time outdoors, attending bonfires, celebrating the Fourth of July, and joking around with her siblings.
A GoFundMe campaign has been created to provide financial support for her two children.
Jones has been formally charged with second-degree intentional murder. A judge set his bail at $2 million. Authorities said he remains hospitalized while in custody and will be transferred to the county jail once he is medically cleared.
It is not known whether Jones has retained legal counsel. He is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 5.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or via thehotline.org. The service is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day in more than 170 languages.