SAGINAW, Mich. — A woman from Indiana has been sentenced to a prison term of 10 to 30 years for her role in the murder of her former partner, an incident that unfolded in front of several children. Markeisha Burns-Cross, 27, accepted a plea deal after initially facing more severe charges, including first-degree murder.
In April, Burns-Cross pleaded no contest to second-degree murder in connection with the death of 33-year-old Devon L. Williams. Prosecutors alleged that she provided logistical support to Zakeem F. Jones, who traveled from Indiana to a home in Buena Vista Township to confront Williams, resulting in Jones fatally shooting him. Jones received a life sentence without the possibility of parole following his separate conviction.
The tragic shooting took place in late March 2023 after a night of drinking and escalating tensions. According to evidence presented during Jones’ trial, Burns-Cross had been arguing with Jones over his communications with other women. In a fit of jealousy, she reached out to Williams, the father of her child, which exacerbated the situation. Following a heated exchange between the couple, Burns-Cross was persuaded by Jones to facilitate a meeting with Williams, escalating the already volatile circumstances.
Equipped with a 9 mm handgun, Jones entered the home where Williams was looking after children. At first, he asked Burns-Cross to get Williams to step outside, but when that didn’t happen, he followed her inside. Witnesses reported that Williams attempted to flee when he recognized Jones as a threat, but the front door was locked. He was shot multiple times before collapsing, later succumbing to his injuries at a hospital.
Burns-Cross testified during Jones’ trial, providing a critical insider’s perspective on the events leading up to the shooting. Her testimony painted a picture of a planned ambush rather than a spontaneous outburst, with both the state and defense presenting conflicting narratives about the motivations behind the crime. Witnesses underscored how Williams, unarmed and caught off guard, never anticipated a violent confrontation.
After the incident, both Burns-Cross and Jones fled back to Indiana, evading law enforcement for months. Burns-Cross was arrested in July 2023, while Jones remained at large until his capture in September of that year. Their separate tracks through the justice system ended with Burns-Cross’s plea deal that reduced her charges, despite acknowledging her culpability.
During the sentencing, the presence of children in the home highlighted the severity of the crime. The court focused on the tragic loss of life and the traumatic impact on the young witnesses. Williams was a father of five, and the circumstances surrounding his death prompted prosecutors to underscore the emotional ramifications of the violence.
Despite the plea deal resulting in a shorter sentence for Burns-Cross compared to Jones’ life imprisonment, it nonetheless emphasized her involvement in the fatal events. Prosecutors noted that her actions leading up to the shooting—communicating with Williams and leading Jones to the scene—were significant factors in assigning her legal responsibility.
Following the sentences, both cases now conclude their trial-court phase, setting the stage for potential future appeals or parole reviews. As Burns-Cross begins her sentence, the enduring impact of the tragic events continues to resonate within the community.