A Delaware man is facing murder charges after police say they followed a trail of his blood from the crime scene to his apartment building.
According to the Wilmington News Journal, officers noticed the blood trail outside of the portable toilet in which they found 31-year-old Rashawna Weathers stabbed to death on October 1.
Wilmington police responded to Kirkwood Park at around 9:30 that morning and reportedly discovered the victim lying face-down on the toilet. From there, reports indicate officers followed the blood drops to an apartment complex near the park.
An employee at the apartment building reportedly informed police that blood had spilled on the first floor earlier in the day.
Though they did not identify the suspect at that point, investigators reportedly spotted a man with a bandaged right hand walking in the vicinity a couple of days later.
The man later identified as 39-year-old Timothy D. Jones initially identified himself as Shakier Jones, according to police reports, and told officers he had recently injured his hand during an argument with his girlfriend.
Police arrested Jones and obtained a warrant to search his apartment. Confronted with the blood evidence they found outside of the apartment’s bathroom and surveillance footage showing the suspect walking in the direction of the park prior to the murder, officers allege he offered a different explanation for his sliced hand.
Claiming he was confronted by a would-be robber near the park, police reports indicate Jones “admitted to being in possession of a black folding knife” and said he “swung the knife at the unknown person.”
At that point, investigators say he admitted walking toward the portable toilets, reportedly telling them he “does not remember” if he stabbed Weathers.
“Jones stated he walked back to his residence and was unable to recall what he did with the knife,” records state.
He is reportedly facing charges of first-degree murder and possession of a deadly weapon while committing a felony.
[Featured image: Wilmington Police Department]
