After a 90-minute hearing on alleged police wrongdoing in the Dominique Rem’mie Fells murder investigation, a Philadelphia judge this week cleared the way for a murder trial for the Trans woman’s alleged killer, Akhenaton Jones.
In June 2020, Fells, 27, was stabbed about 40 times and her body was dismembered, allegedly inside the former residence of Jones in Powelton Village. Two days later, on June 8, 2020, a fisherman discovered Fells’ body parts after they washed ashore in the Schuylkill River.
Jones allegedly fled to Los Angeles, where he was arrested in November 2020 and subsequently charged with murder, abuse of a corpse and related offenses. He remains incarcerated at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Northeast Philadelphia. He’s not eligible for bail.
Jones is serving as his own attorney, though he has a standby attorney to assist him, George S. Yacoubian Jr.
On March 27, Common Pleas Judge J. Scott O’Keefe afforded Jones an opportunity to air his concerns that a Philadelphia detective falsified documentation to justify warrants to search Jones’ residence and to arrest him.
According to Jones, detective Michael Vincent misrepresented the statements of two other men inside Jones’ residence around the time of Fells’ death. Jones said Vincent instructed one of the men to identify Fells as a deceased person inside Jones’ residence, even though the man said he couldn’t do so.
Vincent denied the allegation, stating he only instructed the man to identify Fells as a person inside the home if he could do so.
Jones also claimed Vincent misrepresented witness testimony indicating a violent death had occurred inside the residence, because neither witness testified to that effect.
Vincent disagreed and maintained that information in his supporting documentation was accurate.
Moreover, Jones claimed both witnesses had substance-abuse issues which rendered suspect their recollections of June 6, 2020, the day Fells died.
Jones said one of the witnesses claimed he could see the genitalia of a person lying face down on a bed on the second floor of Jones’ residence. If that person were Fells, why did the witness see no wounds or blood on the person, Jones asked Vincent.
Vincent said it’s possible the witness’ “affection” for Jones may have caused him to minimize what he saw. “I don’t believe he [witness] was being forthcoming with all the information he had,” the detective testified.
Vincent added that the witness was “fond” of Jones, though they had disputes over credit cards. The detective also said Jones and the witness had been lovers, according to information he received.
Jones didn’t confirm or deny Vincent’s assertion of him being a lover of the witness.
Prosecutor Ashley M. Toczylowski emphasized Vincent didn’t falsify information in his paperwork. “There’s not one shred of evidence that he falsified anything,” Toczylowski told O’Keefe.
The prosecutor also noted that much incriminating evidence subsequently was discovered inside Jones’ residence, including a bloody jigsaw, a bloody mattress, a knife, two full-body protective suits and green plastic wrap — which matched that used to cover Fells’ legs.
At the conclusion of the hearing, O’Keefe rejected Jones’ challenge and set a trial date for 10 a.m. on Feb. 12, 2024.
Toczylowski asked O’Keefe if an earlier time becomes available for a trial, that he notify the parties. But O’Keefe said his schedule is full until Feb. 12, 2024. Toczylowski also asked O’Keefe not to postpone the trial beyond Feb. 12, 2024. O’Keefe indicated that he would adhere to the date.
The courtroom was filled with family, friends and advocates for Fells, who was a beloved figure in the local LGBTQ+ community. They declined to comment until after the trial concludes, to avoid jeopardizing the outcome.
Jones, 38, was heavily guarded during the proceeding. He was dressed in a colorful, print shirt and gray slacks. He never looked back at the audience, which did not appear to include any supporters for him.
The entire online court docket for Jones’ case has been sealed by court order, evidently because of problematic filings by Jones. PGN will keep readers informed as future court dates arise.