Mom of 2 Killed On Her Christmas Eve Birthday, and Victim’s Child Tells Grandmother What They Heard

Authorities in Minnesota have arrested a man in connection with the fatal shooting of his girlfriend on Christmas Eve, which also marked her 26th birthday.

Tatianna Marie Ehnes-Giles, 26, was found dead inside a home in Castle Rock, Minnesota, after deputies with the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office responded to the residence on Wednesday, Dec. 24, according to a statement released this week by the Dakota County Attorney’s Office.

Her boyfriend, Demarco Marquie Jones, 29, was taken into custody in connection with her death.

Investigators say that when deputies arrived at the home, Jones was standing at the top of the stairs on the second floor with blood on his hands and the back of his head. He was able to speak with officers and informed them that a firearm was inside one of the rooms.

Ehnes-Giles and Jones shared two children and lived with them on the second floor of the home. Her mother and brothers lived on the lower level.

According to a criminal complaint cited by the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Ehnes-Giles’ mother contacted police after one of her grandchildren ran downstairs in fear following a loud noise. The child demonstrated the sound by banging on the wall twice, and both children told their grandmother that “Daddy fell.” She then went upstairs, where she found Jones on the floor, groaning and claiming that Ehnes-Giles had shot him.

The complaint alleges that Jones later admitted he had shot Ehnes-Giles.

The woman then discovered her daughter “covered in blood, with her hands in front of her face as if she was protecting herself,” according to the complaint.

The incident was initially investigated as an attempted murder-suicide, as previously reported by KSTP. That characterization was not mentioned in the most recent statement from the Attorney’s Office.

Ehnes-Giles was described in an online obituary as a devoted mother, daughter, and sister who enjoyed bonfires, celebrating the Fourth of July, and joking with her siblings. A GoFundMe campaign has been created to help support her children.

Jones has been charged with second-degree intentional murder. A judge set his bail at $2 million.

Authorities said Jones is currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital while under arrest and will be transferred to the Dakota County Jail once cleared. It is not immediately known whether he has retained an attorney. He is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 5.