Monday, May 12, 2025–11:45 p.m.
-WBHF Radio-
A man charged with murder enters a guilty plea in Bartow Superior Court.
Alex Bernard Joyner was arrested in 2022 and charged with the beating death of 26-year-old Malayca Jones. In Bartow County, Joyner was indicted for malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, theft by taking, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Joyner also pleaded guilty to crimes committed in Gordon County, including fleeing officers, improper passing, speeding, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, failure to maintain lane, and reckless driving. He received a life sentence with the possibility of parole, plus ten years.
In March 2022, Alex Joyner beat Malayca Jones to death at his East Felton Road apartment. District Attorney Erle Newton said it was a vicious crime. Joyner reportedly fled the scene in her vehicle and later stole a handgun from his cousin in Bartow County.
Newton said Joyner traveled to Floyd County and held a woman at gunpoint as he stole her car. He wrecked that car and traveled to a convenience store at a gas station on highway 140 and 53. He held the clerk at gunpoint and stole her car. Newton said as she pleaded for her life, he told her she would get the car back when he was caught. A law enforcement officer saw Joyner and attempted to stop him. Joyner was travelling at speeds of 120 miles an hour on the wrong side of the road. He lost control of the car and crashed.
