Court grants request for records, continues capital case; next hearing set for April 1.
TOLEDO, Ohio — A Toledo man accused of kidnapping and killing 13-year-old Kei’Mani Latigue will not be tried within Ohio’s standard time limits after waiving his right to a speedy trial during a court appearance Friday.
Darnell Jones appeared in Lucas County Common Pleas Court for a scheduled pretrial hearing, where Judge Michael Goulding granted a request to continue the case. A new pretrial hearing is set for April 1 at 3 p.m.
As part of Friday’s proceedings, Jones formally waived Ohio’s time requirements for bringing the case to trial, allowing it to move forward on an extended timeline. The filings mark the latest step in what has become an increasingly complex pretrial phase centered on Jones’ mental state.
Court filings show the defense is continuing to pursue records and expert review tied to Jones’ mental condition. The judge granted a defense motion seeking to subpoena records from the Social Security Administration, and additional materials – including jail correspondence and documents related to a forensic psychologist – were filed under seal.
Those developments build on issues raised during a March 6 hearing, where defense attorneys said they were reviewing a large volume of jail records and conducting their own internal assessment of Jones’ competency before deciding whether to pursue a formal evaluation. At that time, the defense also requested a delay in a separate court-ordered evaluation by Toledo forensic psychiatrist Dr. Jonathan Sirkin.
Mental health has remained a central issue in the case. Jones’ attorneys have previously indicated they intend to argue he suffered from serious mental illness, which could make him ineligible for the death penalty if convicted.
Jones is charged with aggravated murder, kidnapping and rape in the death of his daughter, Kei’Mani Latigue.
Latigue was reported missing in March 2024. Her body was found days later inside an abandoned East Toledo home. Jones was arrested shortly afterward following a confrontation with police in Columbus.
The case has been designated as a capital case. Jones has pleaded not guilty.
A separate hearing is scheduled for Aug. 17, with a trial currently set for Oct. 19. That timeline could change as the case progresses.