JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As 2025 marks 30 years since the tragic murder of 19-year-old James Coon Jr., his mother, Sharon Coon, reflected on her son’s legacy and shares a powerful message of forgiveness.
James, a University of North Florida sophomore, was carjacked, kidnapped, robbed, and killed in January 1995. His remains were found months later, leaving a community in mourning.
Two men were convicted in the case. Pressley Alston now sits on death row for the crime. Florida Department of Corrections records show the other man, Dilianjan Ellison, was convicted of lesser crimes and was released from prison in 2004…