Ponemah man sentenced in 2019 murder on Red Lake Indian Reservation

A Ponemah man was sentenced to prison Monday for the murder of a woman on the Red Lake Indian Reservation in 2019.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says 24-year-old William Jones, IV, was sentenced to 12 years (144 months) in prison and five years of supervised release.

RELATED: Ponemah man pleads guilty to murdering woman on Red Lake Indian Reservation

According to prosecutors, Jones and the victim were involved in a romantic relationship and lived together. On the night of Nov. 6, 2019, officials say Jones repeatedly assaulted the victim, who suffered a brain injury.

Despite her obvious need for help, Jones didn’t contact anyone or try to provide aid, and the victim was unconscious in the home for almost two days until Jones’ mother found the victim and called for help, prosecutors say.

The victim was taken to a hospital where she remained in a persistent vegetative state until she died on Nov. 22, 2019.