On December 15, 2005, nineteen-year-old college student and aspiring beauty queen Nona Dirksmeyer was found murdered inside her apartment in Russellville, Arkansas. Nearly two decades later, the case remains an official open file, defined by tunnel vision, flawed early police work, multiple trials, and no final convictions.
The investigation immediately zeroed in on her boyfriend, Kevin Jones, who found her body. Years later, physical evidence pointed toward another local man, Gary Dunn, leading to two more trials that ended in deadlocks. This guide breaks down the timeline, the primary suspects, and the core investigative missteps that left the murder unresolved.
The Discovery and Initial Investigation
Nona Dirksmeyer lived in an off-campus apartment in Russellville while attending Arkansas Tech University. On the morning of December 15, 2005, her boyfriend Kevin Jones grew concerned after she failed to answer his calls or messages. Kevin, who had been heading home to nearby Dover for winter break, returned to her apartment complex alongside his mother and a friend.
After finding the front door locked, Kevin forced open a back sliding glass door, walked inside, and discovered Nona's body. She had been beaten and stabbed to death. In a state of panic, Kevin moved to check for a pulse, disturbing the immediate area and getting blood on his clothes and hands.
Local police, led by investigators Mark Frost and James Bacon, quickly focused their attention on Kevin. Investigators noted an open condom wrapper sitting on the kitchen counter. They theorized that Kevin discovered the wrapper upon returning to the apartment unexpectedly, flew into a jealous rage, bludgeoned her with a heavy floor lamp base, and then staged the discovery of the crime scene.
The Trials of Kevin Jones
The state arrested Kevin Jones and charged him with first-degree murder in March 2006. The prosecution's case rested heavily on three pillars:
- Kevin's presence at the scene and the blood on his clothing.
- A failed polygraph test that investigators claimed he performed poorly on.
- A palm print found on the bulb of the broken lamp.
Kevin maintained his innocence throughout. His defense team argued that investigators suffered from severe tunnel vision, failing to properly check alternate physical evidence or secure the scene against contamination. Crucially, the defense pointed out that the palm print on the lamp did not match Kevin.
In 2007, after deliberating through two days of testimony, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty, acquitting Kevin of the murder. Kevin later filed civil litigation against law enforcement officials over the handling of the case, citing the deep emotional and personal toll of the wrongful accusation.
The Shift Toward Gary Dunn
The case took a sharp turn years later when physical evidence from the original scene was re-evaluated and connected to another local resident, Gary Dunn. Dunn lived nearby and had a history of violent, predatory behavior toward women.
Investigators tested the DNA on the open condom wrapper found on Nona's kitchen counter. The profile matched Gary Dunn. Prosecutors charged Dunn with first-degree murder in 2010, arguing that he entered the apartment intending to force a sexual encounter, met resistance, and killed Nona in a violent fit of rage.
Despite the DNA evidence linking Dunn to the counter wrapper, his trials did not result in a conviction:
- First Trial (2010): Ended in a mistrial when the jury deadlocked.
- Second Trial: Resulted in a second hung jury as the defense raised questions about alternative timelines and police procedures.
Dunn was later imprisoned for an unrelated attempted kidnapping conviction involving another woman, but he was never convicted of Nona's murder.
Key Investigative Errors
The Nona Dirksmeyer case is frequently cited by legal analysts and true crime documentarians—such as the Dateline NBC podcast Murder in Apartment 12—as a textbook example of systemic investigative failure.
- Failure to Secure the Scene: Because Kevin touched his deceased girlfriend and moved items while panicking, initial responders treated him as the primary perpetrator rather than preserving the room for trace evidence.
- Delayed DNA Testing: Investigators prioritized fingerprinting over immediate DNA collection on key objects like the condom wrapper, leaving crucial genetic evidence untested until long after the initial arrest.
- Tunnel Vision: Once police locked onto Kevin Jones as a suspect, alternative leads and potential suspects in the surrounding Russellville area received less scrutiny during the critical early window of the investigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was anyone ever convicted of murdering Nona Dirksmeyer?
No. Although two men—Kevin Jones and Gary Dunn—were charged at different times, neither was convicted. Kevin was acquitted by a jury in 2007, and Dunn's trials ended in mistrials due to deadlocked juries.
What evidence linked Gary Dunn to the crime scene?
DNA profiling extracted from the open condom wrapper found on Nona's kitchen counter matched Gary Dunn. Prosecutors also presented evidence regarding his history of targeting local women.
Where does the investigation stand today?
The case remains officially open with the Russellville Police Department. Periodic reviews by media outlets and investigative teams continue to examine the case files. Public resources such as the Arkansas State Police provide channels for submitting anonymous tips concerning historical cold cases. Additional background on judicial reviews can be found through the Administrative Office of the Courts.
