An on-going domestic violence issue turned deadly just after midnight as St. Tammany Parish recorded its second homicide for 2016. The way the story unfolded was somewhat unusual.
Early Friday morning (July 1, 2016), the George County Sheriff’s Office contacted St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office and stated that 35-year-old, Jonathan Talley, came home with his 3-year-old son and told his parents that he had just shot his ex-girlfriend, Aimee Kirst, of Pearl River, Louisiana. St. Tammany deputies rushed to check on Aimee (33-years-old) and discovered her deceased inside of her residence from an apparent gunshot wound to the head.
As St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office investigators began looking into a motive for the killing, it was discovered that Jonathan had an active restraining order against him for assaulting Aimee in early 2015. Jonathan was arrested last year for allegedly threating Aimee, and at one point, brought a firearm to a friend’s house where Aimee was staying at the time. That particular incident prompted the protective order, which ultimately caused Jonathan to lose custody of their 3-year-old son. At this time, it is unknown as to what led to the early morning shooting, and investigators are still trying to establish a motive behind the killing. It is believed that the 3-year-old boy was present when the shooting occurred, and investigators are working to conduct a forensic interview of the child to determine what he witnessed.
St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith says, “This is truly a tragedy. This young lady unnecessarily lost her life. What is even more tragic is that her 3-year-old son will now have to grow up without his mother and his father.”
A first-degree-murder and a second-degree-kidnapping warrant have been issued for Jonathan Talley. Jonathan is currently in custody in George County Mississippi, and will have to be extradited back to Louisiana to face his charges.