Sam Jones was 36 years old when he was murdered in Escambia County, Florida, more than three decades ago, and the person responsible for his death has yet to be brought to justice.
Jones was a native of Butler County, Alabama, but he had been living in Pensacola for 20 years. He lived on Guerlain Way and worked for Pepsi-Cola and the Coca-Cola Plant at the time of his death.
On the night of May 18, 1988, Jones was alone when he went to BJ’s Lounge, located in the area of North J Street and West Lee Street.
It was there that he got into a physical altercation with an unknown person, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office’s Cold Case Unit.
During the altercation, he was stabbed in the chest.
He was found by two male bystanders staggering in the street, one block from a nightclub on J and Moreno streets.
The men walked with him to Baptist Hospital’s emergency room. Once there, he was asked if he knew the person who stabbed him. Initially, he didn’t respond, but moments later, he said he didn’t know.
Hospital staff performed life-saving measures but to no avail.
At 10:45 p.m., Jones was pronounced dead, according to the Pensacola News Journal.
Investigator Pat Howells told the media in 1988 that they “have no suspects or witnesses. There were a lot of people in the lounge, but no one saw him get stabbed.”
Police officials have worked diligently to find Jones’ killer, but ultimately, his case remains unsolved.
Anyone with information regarding the unsolved murder of Sam Jones is encouraged to contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9199.