Relatives say Megan Sharpton was "lured" out of Manchester by the man identified as a "Person of Interest" in her death.

Donnie Jones Junior was in court today on an un-related weapons charge and came face to face with Sharpton's family for the first time,

He walked into a Manchester courtroom with shackles on his hands and feet, coming face to face with Megan Sharpton’s mother, Kelly, who was clutching a picture of her daughter.

"I feel a lot better for our community that he's not out on the street. Girls are safer without him wandering freely," said Kelly Sharpton

Megan Sharpton’s partially burned body was found in a field in Franklin County in early July. Investigators say Donnie Jones' wife -- seen here in court -- carpooled to nursing school with Sharpton last year. It's the first confirmed connection between the two. Leah Sharpton now says Jones lured her sister out of Coffee County with a story about a possible job the day she was killed.

"It's to my understanding she was going on a job interview to sit with a patient.  Yes, he was posing as the person that had contact with this patient that needed a sitter," said Leah Sharpton.

Last week, authorities spent 9-hours searching Donnie Jones' trailer in Tullahoma. They found a gun and ammo inside which is illegal because jones' is a convicted felon. Detectives consider him a dangerous man.

"I know that he had a 98-escape when he actually tried to kidnap two young ladies in a car and made them take him to the interstate," said Detective Todd Hindman of the Franklin County Sheriff's Department.

In court, Jones asked the judge for a speedy trail, and he mouthing to his relatives in what appeared to be “I didn’t do it.”
 
"He knows in his heart.  The universe knows he's guilty.  I don't have to argue with him.  The police have done their work," said Kelly Sharpton.

Drama Erupts Before Trial of Nursing Student Death Begins