BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Justice has been served for Jonathan Dawson, whose body was discovered with two gunshot wounds to the head on a road in East Lyme on June 2, 2020, according to a release from the state’s Division of Criminal Justice.
On Thursday, a 12-person jury found 29-year-old Jefton Brown, of Bridgeport, guilty of Dawson’s murder. In court, it was revealed that Dawson and Brown were observed leaving Dawson’s Bridgeport residence around 5 p.m. on June 2, 2020.
Dawson’s body was discovered around 10:26 p.m. that evening on the East Lyme road that is adjacent to the southbound lanes of Interstate 95, prosecutors said.
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During the four-day trial, the jury heard from 20 witnesses and received 57 exhibits of evidence. It was enough to convict Brown of one count of murder and one count of criminal possession of a firearm.
Prosecutors said the jury deliberated for two days before reaching a unanimous verdict.
Brown was linked to Dawson’s death after police found video of Brown and Dawson leaving the Bridgeport residence, prosecutors said. The locations of Brown and Dawson’s cellphones based on historical cell site analysis also contributed, as did the fact that prosecutors showed that Dawson’s blood was found in the passenger seat of brown’s rented vehicle.
“The jury addressed the evidence with care and worked diligently to reach an appropriate verdict,” State’s Attorney Joseph Corradino said in the release after trying the case for the state.
In the release, Corradino expressed gratitude for the efforts of the Bridgeport Police Department’s homicide squad, the Connecticut State Police Eastern District Major Crime Squad, the FBI CAST unit and the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory.
“The people of Connecticut are fortunate to have skilled professionals to solve difficult cases,” Corradino said in the release.
Brown will be sentenced in Bridgeport on Oct. 1, prosecutors said. He faces up to 70 years in prison. Following Thursday’s verdict, his bond was increased to $3 million.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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