Diana Duve, a 26-year-old nurse in Vero Beach, Florida, went missing one night in 2014 after leaving a bar with her boyfriend, Michael Jones. Diana’s mother, Lena Andrews, immediately knew something was wrong when Diana didn’t call her as she usually did every day. The police began an investigation, but had trouble finding any leads. They eventually obtained a search warrant for Jones’s apartment, where they found Diana’s parents waiting outside, hoping for any sign of their daughter. It was discovered that Diana had sent a text in Russian to her mother the night before she went missing, indicating she wouldn’t be home.
Jones had a history of domestic violence, as evidenced by a 911 call from a previous incident with an ex-girlfriend. Despite a physical altercation between Diana and Jones prior to her disappearance, she chose not to press charges. Investigators analyzed cellphone tower pings and surveillance footage, which led them to locate Diana’s car in a Publix parking lot in Melbourne, Florida. The trunk of the car contained Diana’s body, revealing that she had suffered blunt force trauma to the head and had been strangled to death. Jones was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence of Jones’s manipulative behavior and abusive past with other women. Witnesses testified to Diana’s accounts of Jones’s controlling behavior and physical abuse. Despite the defense’s attempt to portray the murder as a potential accident, the jury quickly returned a guilty verdict. The trial then entered the penalty phase, where the jury had to decide between life in prison or the death penalty for Jones. In a devastating blow, Jones received a life sentence instead of the death penalty, much to the disappointment of prosecutors.
Throughout the ordeal, Diana’s mother, Lena Andrews, remained steadfast in seeking justice for her daughter. Despite the outcome of the trial, she continues to keep Diana’s memory alive and hopes that others will learn from her story. Lena emphasizes the importance of trusting one’s intuition in cases of domestic violence and encourages victims to seek help. Diana’s bedroom remains untouched, serving as a constant reminder of the daughter Lena will never see again. The case serves as a cautionary tale of the dangers of abusive relationships and the importance of speaking out against such behavior.
