Jury Finds Robert Howard Guilty In 2017 Murder Of Naomi Jones

August 12, 2021

An Escambia County jury Thursday evening found Robert Howard guilty of the first degree murder of 12-year old Naomi Jones in 2017.

Howard was sentenced to life in prison without any chance of parole.

Prosecutors said  Howard kidnapped, murdered and dumped the body of Jones into Eight Mile Creek.

Authorities say Howard was living with his girlfriend in the same apartment complex in which Jones lived in the 1400 block of East Johnson Avenue. She was last seen May 31, 2017, in that apartment complex.

Jones likely died within 24 to 36 hours after her May 31 disappearance, Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said at the time. Her body was then later dumped into Eight Mile Creek, some 4-5 miles away, where it was found days later by two men looking for a fishing location.

According to court documents, Howard admitted to being at the apartment complex the day Jones went missing and having contact with her at his apartment. He became extremely angry and committed “a violent act” against  Jones causing her death. He then placed her body in the backseat of his Nissan Altima and traveled to multiple locations, including Brewton, AL, before returning to Pensacola and throwing Jones’ body into the creek.

Howard is convicted sex offender. He was convicted in 1999 on two counts of first degree rape to  two adult females in Escambia County, Alabama. One of the victims was  19-years old at the time. He served 15 years.

Comments

16 Responses to “Jury Finds Robert Howard Guilty In 2017 Murder Of Naomi Jones”

  1. GVM on July 31st, 2023 6:09 pm

    How could an adult do ANY harm to a beautiful child of God?! My heart is broken for Naomi and her family! I’m glad this murderer is put away for life, but, an eye for an eye should’ve been his sentence!!!

  2. Dakota smith on August 14th, 2021 12:53 pm

    I hope he rots in his cell

  3. Dakota smith on August 14th, 2021 12:52 pm

    What a disgusting individual

  4. Randy lucas on August 13th, 2021 12:09 pm

    I remember him when he was at Fountain Correctional Center in Atmore..I couldn’t figure out how he got out back then..

  5. Brandon on August 13th, 2021 9:20 am

    It’s great to know the justice system failed the community not once but twice. This piece of low lying trash should have been executed. Why should we foot a bill for something like this! folks have no fear to their actions because they get a free pass to a life of 3 hots and a cot.

  6. Susie on August 13th, 2021 9:00 am

    Prison is his last stop on this earth. I pray he is haunted by what he did to this beautiful child every minute of every day he breathes until all the inmates find out what he did. Demons belong in the abyss. That’s his destiny.

    God bless the family and keep them strong in sweet Naomi’s honor. She is the little lovely Angel watching over you.

  7. tax payer on August 13th, 2021 8:13 am

    Now we have to feed him and keep him healthy for the next 30 plus years!!!!!!!!!!!

  8. RC on August 13th, 2021 7:38 am

    Agree with JTV 100% on this one.

  9. Duke of Wawbeek on August 13th, 2021 7:24 am

    “Matters” is all about perspective.

  10. Lou on August 13th, 2021 7:17 am

    Great job by our Prosecutors! Justice for Naomi.

  11. SueB on August 13th, 2021 6:47 am

    Parents, watch and take care of your children, no matter how old they are. Maybe justice for Naomi will be found inside the prison. There will be some loop hole for him to get out. Justice was not done in the court, he should have received the death penalty.

  12. Tiger on August 13th, 2021 6:32 am

    He should get the death penalty by hanging at the public square. He does not deserve to live another day for taking the life of a precious girl. My deepest sympathy to her family.

  13. MR REALITY on August 13th, 2021 3:54 am

    Either way, when he gets to prison…HE GONE

  14. mnon on August 13th, 2021 2:21 am

    correction to my previous statement “$750 thousand dollars for life in prison”

  15. mnon on August 13th, 2021 2:20 am

    I remember this, so sad. Everyone saying death penalty, it costs roughly $3-4 million dollars to execute someone. No they don’t use a 25 cent bullet. It costs roughly $750 million tax payer dollars for life in prison. In most cases a long slow life in prison. In a case like this guy murdering a 12 year old, a very long slow life in prison.

    I say he got what he deserved a long slow death in prison where he will be the one looking over his shoulder every 5 minutes… for life…

  16. JTV on August 12th, 2021 8:22 pm

    Should’ve gotten the death penalty.