January 13, 2025 | By: Savanna Stillwagner

This story is part of a collaborative project between Project: Cold Case and the University of North Florida’s Applied Journalism class.

It was a few days before April 27, 2011. Thirteen-year-old Desmond Jones was at school with some classmates and his teacher, Mr. Cummings, goofing around, making conversation and playing music. Desmond turned to Cummings and said, “Man, I don’t know what it is, but we are gonna have fun.”

Cummings patted Desmond on the head and carried on with his day.

A couple of days later, Desmond didn’t come to school, but he had called Cummings’ phone while the teacher was out on the playground with his class. Cummings couldn’t answer the phone at the time, and he never got the chance to see what Desmond was calling about.

On April 27, 2011, Desmond was shot and killed on Lillie Street in Fort Myers, Fla. His murder has never been solved.

That year, Desmond was playing in his first season of Pop Warner football as No. 64 on the Firecats team. His teammates knew him as “Lil Flame.”

Denae Hendley, mother of Desmond and his two older sisters, recalled her favorite memories as driving him to football practice.

“In the car, just me and him, we would chit-chat while taking him to Pop Warner football,” Hendley said. “One evening, there was an incident where we were riding in the car and another car ran through the light, and he yelled, ‘Look! That car ran through the light!’”

She reassured him, “That’s why you need to be careful when you drive. There are some people out there that don’t pay attention while driving.” Those drives to football practice became heartfelt memories for Hendley, a reminder of the bond she shared with her talkative, bright-spirited boy.

Shanessa Stewart, Desmond’s older sister by five years, said they had a “brother-sister love.”

Stewart laughed and said she would sometimes wait all day to come home and eat leftovers after a long day, but Desmond had already eaten them.

He was just a “happy-go-lucky kid,” Stewart said.

Stewart loved watching her little brother in their backyard doing dance moves or playing basketball one-on-one with him.

Desmond would tell his aunt, Carra Jones, “I’m a superstar.”

“Yes, you are, Lil Flame,” Jones said. “You can be anything you want to be, and I’ll be right here to support you, Nephew, forever.”

Jones recalled how much he loved to watch Walker, Texas Ranger, starring Chuck Norris, a show about characters fighting drug lords, corrupt cops, and other criminals.

The boy whose favorite lunch was noodles with Gatorade on the side never stopped being passionate about the things he loved: his family, music, dancing, sports, and education.

On April 27, 2011, Desmond “was out with so-called friends—boys and girls,” on Lillie Street in the Dunbar community of Fort Myers, Fla., Hendley said.

Although there are community events held in the area today, the Dunbar community is a “rough area,” according to Cummings. This was the community where Cummings had grown up; it was once a loving community that came together, but following the drug epidemic in the ’90s, it never returned to the way it once was.

“A lot of crime happens there,” Cummings said.

On April 27, 2011, Desmond was out with his friends in that area when an argument about a girl broke out in the group.

“Everyone in the city was told,” Cummings said, that someone in the group pulled out a gun in response to the argument. Desmond and his friend began running away when the person shot and killed Desmond with a fatal shot to the front of the head.

Soon after, a friend of Hendley’s knocked on her door asking where Desmond was, fearing he might have been shot. Hendley’s friend drove her to the scene, where she then saw her son.

Although there were witnesses and the case initially moved forward, it eventually fell apart, and no one has ever been charged with the murder.

“I am just trying to fathom,” Cummings said with sorrow thinking of Desmond. “A 13-year-old.”

Recounting memories of her precious nephew, Jones said, “We have those memories, but we can never get him back.”

Now, Hendley and Jones keep Desmond’s memory alive by flipping through cherished photos of him, finding comfort in his bright, handsome smile.

Hendley recalls Desmond’s artwork in his bedroom, reflecting his love for the Florida Gators and his Honor Roll certificate from school.

“For 10 years, this wall was red,” Hendley said, standing in Desmond’s bedroom. “But after ten years, I finally painted it.” It is now a tan color.

“We make sure to keep all his memories alive for birthdays and other holidays,” Jones said. “We wear shirts.”

Jones owns numerous shirts with pictures of Desmond, capturing some of his best moments and smiles.

Stewart copes by pursuing her dreams.

She thinks to herself, “If he were here, you would be the example for him.” She walks through her life as though she is still leading by example for her little brother.

Desmond’s family says if he were still here today, he would be following his dreams too. He would be owning his own company by now or would have gotten an education and a real job.

“I wish I could have seen him grow up to be a man, to be a teenager,” Hendley said.

Hendley wants justice, but she has forgiven her son’s murderer. “God can see farther than we can,” she said.

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Anyone with information concerning Desmond Jones’ homicide is asked to call the Fort Myers Police Department at (239) 321-7700. To remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a reward, call  Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers at (800) 780- TIPS (8477).

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