(Marion County, FL) Yesterday, August 27, 2026, jurors delivered their verdict in the 2023 murder case of 56-year-old Darius Duntel Jones. Following a three-day jury trial, jurors found 41-year-old Joseph Edwards Horrighs guilty of First-Degree Premeditated Murder.
Following the jury’s guilty verdict, Judge Barbara Kissner-Kwatkosky sentenced Horrighs to Life in the Florida Department of Corrections.
“This verdict and sentencing hold the defendant accountable for taking the life of Darius Jones and provide a measure of justice for his family,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “A life was taken though an act of premeditated violence, and the jury returned the just verdict of guilty. Our thoughts remain with Mr. Jones’ family and loved ones as they continue to live with this loss.”
On September 21, 2023, Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a shooting off of SE 174th Place, where they discovered the victim, identified as Darius Jones deceased from multiple gunshot wounds.
As detectives continued their investigation into the death of Darius, they discovered that he had picked up a man and a female companion before stopping at a local Wal-Mart. The three are then seen on surveillance cameras at the store leaving together. Darius got into the driver’s seat of the vehicle, with Horrighs entering the passenger seat in the front and the female getting into the passenger seat in the back. Investigators were able to identify both the female and Horrighs and questioned both as to the events that day.
Initially Horrighs denied being with the victim, but after being confronted with video evidence, he confessed to being with the victim the day of the victim’s murder. Officials learned that after the three had left Wal-Mart, an argument occurred between Horrighs and the female. Law enforcement reviewed footage from a home nearby where the victim’s car and body were found. While reviewing the footage, they observed the female exiting the back seat of the car before leaving on foot.
Approximately 20 minutes after the car is seen driving away, on that same footage, Horrighs is captured briskly walkingfrom the direction the car drove off in. This placed the defendant with the victim for approximately 20 minutes before the shooting. The evidence collected at the scene of the crime, including a gun holster and shell casings were tested for DNA and matched Horrighs. A search warrant was conducted for where the defendant resided, where detectives discovered shell casings matching those recovered from the crime scene.
After speaking with witnesses, law enforcement learned that Horrighs disliked the victim because the victim was African American and because the victim was believed by Horrighs to be flirtatious with the female companion which made the defendant jealous. After ruling out all possible suspects, coupled with the DNA and ballistics evidence, Horrighs was subsequently arrested and charged in this case.
This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Toby Hunt. The State Attorney’s Office extends its sincerest appreciation to the law enforcement officers, investigators, witnesses, victim advocates and others whose work contributed to bringing the case before a jury.
Published on 08/28/2026.