After a 21-day investigation into Homicide of Marcus Adam Battles that occurred on April 10, 2025 in Mentone, a Capital Murder warrant was issued for CHRISTOPHER BRAYDEN JONES (23 of Calhoun, Georgia).
JONES is currently incarcerated at the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia, where he was remanded into custody on May 1st, 2025 on unrelated charges.
JONES will be extradited to Dekalb County Alabama on his warrant once those charges are satisfied.
This investigation was a long and arduous journey for the family of Marcus Adam Battles, the Community of Mentone, and every individual who has had a hand in bringing this case to a close.
Countless hours were spent by multiple law enforcement agencies developing leads, gathering evidence, and finally developing JONES as a suspect.
Sheriff Welden, Dekalb County Criminal Investigation Unit Investigators, Dekalb County DTF Agents, Officers with the Mentone Police Department, and Deputies and Investigators with the Gordon County Georgia Sheriff’s Office were on scene in Gordon County Georgia the majority of May 1st into the early morning hours of May 2nd actively working the case in order to secure evidence and finalize the investigation.
The Dekalb County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the following agencies for their assistance in this case. LOCAL AGENCIES: The 9th Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, Jacksonville State University Center for Applied Forensics, Mentone Police Department, Valley Head Police Department, Marshall County Sheriff’s Office. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Mentone Fire and Rescue and Dekalb Ambulance Service. GEORGIA AGENCIES: Gordon County Sheriff’s Office, Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office and The Lookout Mountain Task Force. FEDERAL AGENCIES: The Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Finally, the DCSO would like to thank all the citizens who called in tips, offered assistance, and trusted the process of justice.
DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden said of the incident: “This has been an absolute 21 day rollercoaster of an investigation! From tips coming in from across the county to local theories, we’ve followed up on them all and left no stone unturned.”
“Our investigation unit has worked diligently on this case for 21 days straight and refused to slow down or give up. I can’t say enough how proud I am of how our office and several others came together and literally put (EVERY) resource we could put together to bring what case would seem almost impossible to solve, A Job Well Done.”
“Maybe now the Battles family can have some ease to a terrible pain that started 21 days ago that took a loved one and left an entire community with a huge question of WHY! Our office exhausted everything we had, along with several others, and the public will never know just how much we came together and how much prayer was sent up to the Good Lord.”
“Huge thanks to ALL, from our citizens who sent tips over the past 21 days, Mentone PD who has been there every step of the way, Gordon County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia and most of all GOD.”
