From the Office of DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden:
FORT PAYNE, Ala. — On December 6 th 2022, at 7:55p.m., Collinsville Police and Fire
Department, DeKalb Ambulance Service and patrol deputies with DeKalb County
Sheriff’s Office responded to Watts Drive on an unresponsive female call. When first
responders arrived, they found Sandra Jelks, age 62 of Collinsville, deceased in the
living room of her home.
Due to Sandra Jelks being the mother of a DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office employee,
the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, 9 th Circuit District Attorney’s Office and
Jacksonville State University - Center for Applied Forensics were requested to
investigate the death. Investigators immediately developed a suspect, Bruce Lee
Jones, age 41 of Collinsville and arrested him shortly after on unrelated charges. Bruce
Lee Jones was identified as the son of Sandra Jelks.
After a thorough investigation Bruce Lee Jones was formally charged with Murder on
December 9 th 2022. Jones is being held in the Cherokee County Detention Center on a
$1,000,000.00 bond.
DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden said of the incident: “It’s unfortunate that this
horrible crime happened in the peaceful community of Collinsville. Our DeKalb County
Sheriff’s Office family has suffered a tragic loss and we ask for your prayers for the
family of Sandra Jelks and the employee who lost a mother. I would like to thank the
offices of Sheriff Jeff Shaver and District Attorney Mike O’Dell for Investigating this
horrendous murder. I would also like to thank the Collinsville Police Department, Fort
Payne Police Department, Rainsville Police Department and the DeKalb County E.M.A.
for their assistance in the investigation.”
“God Bless!” Concluded Sheriff Welden.