Man who spent almost 30 years on death row wins court ruling in decades

CINCINNATI —

Nearly three decades after being sentenced to death, Elwood Jones has won a court ruling that prevents the use of prior witness testimony in a retrial, marking a significant step toward his potential freedom.

Jones, accused of murdering Rhoda Nathan in a Blue Ash hotel in 1994, won a ruling on Friday that his defense team says makes it nearly impossible for prosecutors to try him again. Jones' attorney called this a huge win and another step toward freedom for Jones, who spent 27 years on death row until he was granted a new trial in 2022. Advertisement

Since his murder conviction in 1996, Elwood Jones has maintained his innocence, stating, "I'm not guilty."

However, he was convicted of murdering Rhoda Nathan and sentenced to death.

Three years ago, after spending almost