TOLEDO, Ohio — UPDATE: The 17-year-old charged with murder in the death of a Sylvania Township woman earlier this month appeared in Lucas County Juvenile Court Thursday for an arraignment.
Prosecutors said they plan to charge the girl as an adult in the crime.
Though authorities have not recovered the body of Nicole Jones, 53, evidence in the case has led them to believe she is dead. Prosecutors Thursday told WTOL 11 that the 17-year-old accused in the case confessed to police.
The teen, who is from Canton, faces charges of murder and tampering with evidence.
On May 5, police in Canton asked Sylvania Township police to check on the safety of Nicole Jones, whose home is in the 7400 block of Timbers Edge Boulevard. Township police and the U.S. Marshals Service entered the residence, but did not find the woman.
Township police later said, "subsequent information gathered in the investigation has led this police department to believe that harm has come to the missing female," though the woman's body has not been recovered.
Nicole Jones is the mother of Jonathan Jones, 33, who was arrested in Mexico May 8 after a manhunt sparked when authorities believe he went on the run with the 17-year-old girl who has now been charged in his mother's death.
Jones was wanted for charges out of Wood County for pandering obscene material and child endangerment.
WTOL 11 does not identify minors accused of crimes unless they are charged in adult court.
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