Man charged with murder of woman he allegedly beat, raped and left to die in a field

ALBANY, Ga. (WALB/Gray News) – A Georgia man accused of beating, raping and leaving a woman to die in a field has been charged with murder. The victim died after being on life support for several days.

According to police reports, 63-year-old Johnnie Jones attacked Melissa Law on August 10 and left her for dead under a tree in an Albany field. The victim was allegedly beaten and raped before an off-duty police officer found her unconscious and barely alive, WALB reports.

Law was on life support for about a week before succumbing to her injuries. Her family confirmed that she died Sunday night at Phoebe Putney Health System.

“I’m glad no one can hurt her anymore,” said Law’s sister Jessica Cloud.

Cloud said goodbye to her sister for the last time on Sunday. This situation was a nightmare that she never believed would happen to her family.

“My mom and I went downstairs. I leaned over to my sister and told her I loved her and that I would take care of our mom when it was time for her to go. It was 8:52. We went back upstairs at 9:00, about 9:05, and she was gone,” Cloud said.

Investigators identified Jones as the suspect and he was taken into custody on August 12, according to online records. After Law's death, he was charged with her murder. His other charges include aggravated assault, aggravated sodomy, aggravated stalking, aggravated battery and rape.

According to the victim's family, the relationship between Law and Jones was on and off.

Law's family is now focused on her funeral and getting justice. Cloud says she just wants to give her sister a dignified sendoff and is raising money through GoFundMe.

“We started the GoFundMe campaign, but my mom and I are homeless. When we leave the hospital, we don't know where to go and we need help,” Cloud said.

Jones is currently being held in the Dougherty County Jail.

Copyright 2024 WALB via Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved.