The Edmond Police Department recently arrested 23-year-old Ariana Leigh Jones for the fatal stabbing of Nathan Roy Richard, 33, which occurred at the SureStay Plus Hotel in Edmond. The incident took place in the early hours of Tuesday, July 29, when officers responded to the scene at approximately 3:30 a.m., as reported by OKC FOX. Richard was found with a stab wound to his lower left chest in the hotel’s parking lot and pronounced dead after being transported to a local hospital.
Jones was identified as the suspect following the investigation and admitted to the stabbing during an interview with detectives, leading to her arrest on charges of second-degree murder. However, according to News9, Jones claimed she acted in self-defense after Richard attacked her and another person. Despite her claims, police expressed skepticism, noting that she did not exhibit any marks or bruises that would corroborate her being attacked.
Further complicating the case, investigators discovered that Jones allegedly concealed the getaway car with a tarp, signaling a potential intent to evade law enforcement. The victim was allegedly involved in an altercation with two other individuals at the time of the incident, with witnesses claiming that Richard attacked Jones precipitating the stabbing. These accounts are currently under scrutiny by the police, as surveillance footage and interviews are being evaluated to piece together the exact series of events…