‘I’m sorry this has happened’: Woman denied bond in Ladson murder case

LADSON, S.C. (WCSC) - A 49-year-old woman was denied bond on charges in connection to a murder case in Ladson where the victim was found in a shallow grave.

Shannon Ann Bonilla was in bond court Tuesday night where she faced charges of murder, desecration of human remains, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime in connection to the death of 35-year-old Jonathan Michael Jones of Walterboro who was found in a shallow grave Friday evening.

“I’m sorry this has happened,” said Bonilla during the court hearing. She also said she would like to tell her side in court.

Detectives with the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office also spoke during the hearing and recommended that bond be denied for Bonilla who they said also has an extensive criminal history along with the crimes she now faces.

According to detectives, when Bonilla learned that she was wanted for Jones’ death, she left her home, and cut and colored her hair in an attempt to disguise herself to avoid being captured. Deputies say she was captured six hours after the sheriff’s office announced they were looking for her at a Summerville hotel.

“This woman stole a piece of my family that we will never truly heal from,” said the victim’s sister to the judge during the court hearing. “I ask you sir, please never let this vile human wander the streets again, so she cannot steal another person’s precious life.”

Chief Deputy Coroner Darnell D. Harwell said that Jones’ cause of death was blunt and sharp trauma to the head, neck and back.

The sheriff’s office said the victim was located in an area behind the 100 block of College Park Road.

The investigation began on Friday evening when deputies responded to an area off of Highway 78 in reference to a possible deceased person. Once deputies arrived on scene, they were able to discover the body that was buried in an area behind College Park Road, according to investigators.

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