The family of a 20-year-old woman beaten to death is trying to scrape together enough money to pay for her funeral.
Rickshell Jones's family says they took her off of life support at the end of last week. An ambulance rushed the victim to the hospital a few days earlier.
According to court documents on the way to the hospital Jones woke up to tell one of the medics her boyfriend of almost two years beat her. Then, she lost consciousness. She never woke up.
Roanoke Police have arrested the boyfriend, 21-year-old Darryl Thompson. He's currently charged with malicious wounding.
"Love is blind and I don't think it was the first time. I mean I know myself that it is not the first time he put his hands on her," says Shamekia Henson, the victim's cousin.
On top of their grief, Jones' family is stressed trying to figure out how to pay for burial expenses.
"We need a lot of help. Her funeral is almost $7,000 and we have $500," says Henson.
The funeral home says the costs will be around $4,000.
Jones' funeral is scheduled for Monday. Her family is asking for anyone who'd like to donate to make the checks payable to Serenity Funeral Home in Roanoke. Any donation they say would be appreciated.
