Elizabeth City, North Carolina – March 4, 1984 — Sharon Jones, a 21-year-old student at Elizabeth City State University, was just weeks away from becoming a teacher when she was brutally murdered in her dorm room. More than four decades later, her tragic death remains unsolved. A disturbing phone call made on the day of her funeral has only deepened the mystery.

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What Happened to Sharon Jones?

Sharon returned early from spring break to prepare for her student teaching assignment at Moyock Elementary. On the night of March 4, around 9:30 p.m., security guards escorted her back to Mitchell Lewis Hall. The campus was still quiet, with classes set to resume after the break.

The next morning, a dorm supervisor noticed shattered glass beneath a first-floor window and knocked on the door of Room 125, Sharon’s room. When there was no response, the door was opened — revealing a horrifying scene. Sharon was found face down on her bed, strangled with a belt that had been tied to the bedpost. A blood-covered dumbbell was discovered under the bed, and signs of a struggle were present throughout the room.

There were no signs of forced entry, robbery, or sexual assault. The murder was brutal, calculated, and carried out with chilling precision.

Early Investigation and Key Witnesses

Two individuals — Angela Dennis Jones, a security supervisor, and Delantry Trafton, a special education student and Vietnam veteran — were staying in the room directly above Sharon. Both were interviewed and passed polygraph tests.

They recalled a disturbing encounter around midnight: someone knocked on their door and asked, “What is your name? May I know your name?” When they didn’t respond, the man left. Investigators questioned whether this individual might have been the killer searching for someone else.

Though fingerprints were collected from the crime scene, none matched anyone in the system. Despite extensive efforts, the investigation eventually went cold.

The Chilling Phone Call at Sharon’s Funeral

The mystery took an even darker turn during Sharon’s funeral. The Jones family received a horrifying phone call from a young male voice:
“I’m sorry I killed the wrong Sharon Jones.”

Sharon’s sister Lisa screamed in shock as the family tried to process the haunting confession. The call raised alarming questions.
Was the killer targeting another woman with the same name?
Was Sharon murdered by mistake?
Or was the caller deliberately taunting the grieving family?

The call was never traced, and its meaning remains a haunting mystery.

Public Reactions and Lingering Questions

Sharon’s unsolved murder has weighed heavily on Elizabeth City for decades. The lack of answers has left her family heartbroken and the community unsettled. Investigators have long believed the crime may have been more complex than it initially appeared — possibly involving mistaken identity or a targeted attack that went horribly wrong.

Despite the passage of time, the search for answers has never truly ended. Sharon’s family continues to hope for closure and justice.

How the Public Can Help

The Elizabeth City Police Department is urging anyone with information — no matter how small — to come forward. Even a long-forgotten detail could be the key to solving this 40-year-old mystery.

Elizabeth City Police Department: 252-335-4321

Justice for Sharon Jones is still possible, and one tip could finally reveal the truth.

Conclusion

The murder of Sharon Jones remains one of North Carolina’s most chilling unsolved cases. A promising young woman lost her life, and a grieving family has spent decades waiting for answers. With renewed attention on cold cases and modern investigative tools, there is still hope that the person responsible will one day be identified. This story may be updated as new information emerges.