Michigan – In a horrifying case in Michigan that has left a family shattered and a child without both her mother and grandmother, a 22-year-old Ohio woman, identified as R. Donaldson, is now facing charges of first-degree murder and felony firearm possession as she carried out a premeditated and deliberate killing of her own 45-year-old mother, identified as A. Jones, amid a bitter custody battle over her three-year-old daughter. If convicted, Donaldson faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.
According to authorities, the motive behind the brutal slaying was rooted in a custody dispute that had escalated in recent months. Donaldson had previously lost custody of her daughter, who had since been living with Jones in Michigan. Though the grandmother had reportedly allowed regular visits, tensions between the two women had been mounting, culminating in a violent encounter that turned deadly.
On the evening of October 5, police were called to Jones’ home, where they discovered the 45-year-old woman dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Inside the house, Jones’ three-year-old granddaughter was found unharmed but had witnessed the attack. Also present was the victim’s 77-year-old mother-in-law, who told investigators she had heard three to four shots ring out, followed by someone fleeing through the front door. Nearby surveillance footage quickly confirmed a suspect. A black vehicle was seen pulling into the driveway just before the shooting. The vehicle matched one previously associated with Donaldson. Shortly after, a woman, later identified as Donaldson, was seen running from the home. Investigators found a purse left at the scene, containing Donaldson’s identification, tying her directly to the crime.
By the following day, police had tracked Donaldson down in Ohio and taken her into custody. When officers asked her to identify herself, “she called herself God.” According to Police Chief E. Barren, her statement wasn’t just bizarre; it was a declaration that she believed she had the power to decide life and death. Court records and prior police reports reveal this wasn’t the first time tensions between Donaldson and her mother had reached dangerous levels. Just weeks before the fatal shooting, police had responded to the home after Donaldson abducted her daughter, stole her mother’s car and dog, and fled to Ohio. Despite recovering both the vehicle and the child, Jones declined to press charges at the time.
Still, the incident raised alarms about Donaldson’s mental health. Her mother petitioned for her to be hospitalized, citing concerns about her stability. But according to Chief Barren, even with those concerns, Donaldson was fully aware of her actions on the night of the killing. When interrogated, she immediately requested a lawyer, an indication, he said, of someone who understands the legal process and her rights. “She’s very conscious of the legal system,” Barren explained. Despite her lack of any previous criminal history, Barren emphasized that mental health concerns would not be used as a shield from justice. “We are not going to let anyone use mental health as an escape. There is a process with that where the judge will decide.”
Donaldson remains in custody at the county jail without bond. Her next court appearance is scheduled for October 22. Meanwhile, the child at the center of the conflict has been placed in the custody of her grandfather. As the legal proceedings begin, the family continues to grapple with a loss that’s both profound and deeply unsettling. If found guilty, Donaldson faces the maximum penalty under Michigan law—life in prison without parole.
