A suspect has been arrested and charged with the murder of a man whose body was found in a burned vehicle after a shooting near Parkway Village, Memphis. The Memphis Police Department apprehended 22-year-old Isiah Jones, who is now facing a first-degree murder charge. The investigation began last Monday when police responded to a shooting at the Extended Stay on American Way, as reported by Action News 5.
During their investigation, officers found several bullet casings in the parking lot before being alerted to a nearby car fire in the woods. The burned body of 31-year-old James Presgrove, who had a love for animals and was a father to a 3-year-old son, was discovered inside the crashed vehicle. Found burned beyond recognition, Presgrove's family had to contend with a sealed casket at his funeral, according to a WREG interview with his family. They did not want to be identified due to social media threats. Still, they persisted in their quest for clarity amidst the tragedy, expressing their profound loss and desire for more information on the case.
Surveillance footage contributed key evidence, as it captured a male suspect, later identified as Jones, firing shots at Presgrove’s vehicle before pursuing him to the location where the car ultimately crashed and caught fire, revealed FOX13 Memphis. After the shooting, Jones was seen leaving the scene in a white sedan. Court documents indicated that Jones was recognized as a frequent guest at the Extended Stay hotel, and he had checked into a room the day before the shooting took place.
Despite Jones’ arrest, Presgrove’s family remains in search of answers regarding the motive and specifics of the crime. "We still don’t know how many times he was shot, or where he was shot," a family member told WREG. The family also expressed their frustration with the lack of communication from law enforcement, as they were not informed about Jones' court appearance, nor were they given information about the progress of the investigation. Jones was due back in court the following day for a bond hearing, and as of the latest updates, no bond had been set. Authorities have not made any additional arrests in the case. CrimeStoppers is available at 901-528-CASH for anyone with information relevant to the investigation.
