D.C. Mother Pleads Guilty to Perjury for Lying to Grand Jury During Investigation into Her 2-Year-Old Son’s Murder

WASHINGTON - Monet Jones, 28, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today for lying to the grand jury about the beating death of her 2-year-old child, Mars Jones, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

"Two-year-old Mars deserved a mother who would fight for justice, not protect the man who beat her child to death," said U.S. Attorney Pirro. "Instead, she misled investigators and deleted evidence to shield him from accountability. If you obstruct justice to protect someone who kills a child, you will answer for it. No exceptions."

Jones pleaded guilty before D.C. Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt to one count of perjury and one count of tampering with evidence. Judge Park scheduled sentencing for February 1, 2027, with her co-defendant, Dasean Matthews.

According to the government's evidence, on October 13, 2022, 2-year-old Mars, Jones, and Matthews, (co-defendant Jones's romantic partner) drove to a Dunkin Donuts just before noon. While in the Dunkin Donuts, video evidence shows Matthews striking the young child with a closed fist in the upper body causing Mars to fall and slam against a metal railing. Later that day, while in a parking garage, video evidence shows Matthews grabbing Mars by the neck of his clothing, swing him by the clothing, and minutes later, strike Mars in the upper body or face, causing the young child to again fall to the floor. Later the same day, while alone in a vehicle with Mars, video evidence shows defendant Matthews repeatedly strike the young child so forcefully that the vehicle shakes from the impact of the blows. Immediately thereafter, Matthews delivers an unconscious and bloody baby Mars to Jones and then flees the scene. An autopsy determined that Mars died from complications of inflicted head trauma. 

Throughout the pendency of the case, Jones repeatedly lied to law enforcement and the grand jury about witnessing defendant Matthews' assaulting her child or being in the Dunkin Donuts on October 13, 2022, in an attempt to hinder the investigation. Jones also deleted messages between her and Matthews from her phone in an attempt to protect Matthews.

Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. 

This case was investigated by the Special Victims Unit of the Homicide Section at the Metropolitan Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emma McArthur and Shauna Payyappilly. 

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