By Rich Larson, KYMN News
Yesterday, the Dakota County Attorney’s Office charged Demarco Marquie Jones, 29, of Castle Rock Township, with Murder in the 2nd Degree of his girlfriend, Tatianna Ehnes-Giles, also of Castle Rock Township
On the afternoon of December 24th, Dakota County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the 3700 block of 250th Street West in Castle Rock Township on a report that a woman had been shot inside the residence.
Upon arrival, deputies found Ehnes-Giles in an upstairs bedroom deceased from a gunshot wound to her head. Deputies found Jones semi-conscious on top of the second-floor stairway outside the victim’s bedroom. According to the criminal complaint, Jones had blood on his hands and the back of his head from an apparent gunshot wound. Jones told deputies that the gun was ‘in the room”. A handgun and two spent shell casings were recovered from the scene.
Five other family members of Ms. Ehnes-Giles who also reside in the home were present at the time of the shooting including the two young children of Ms. Ehnes-Giles and Jones. No others were injured. Jones was transported to a hospital where he remains in custody.
In a statement announcing the charges, Dakota County Sheriff Joe Leko said, noting that Ehnes-Giles died not only on Christmas Eve, but also on her 26th birthday, thanked first responders and the 911 Dispatch staff for their help and professionalism.
“Our highly trained deputies and investigators were tasked with processing a very challenging scene,” he said, “and did so with professionalism and care.”
Bail was set for Jones at $2 million with conditions by Judge Dannia Edwards. He will be transferred to the Dakota County Jail after he is medically cleared. His next court hearing is scheduled for Jan. 5, 2026, at 9 a.m. in Hastings.
For more details, the Dakota County Criminal Complaint can be found by clicking here
Rich Larson is the owner and General Manager of KYMN Radio. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
