Patrick Estell Jones
On March 28th, 2020 Patrick Estell Jones passed on from this world. He was 49 years old. His death made headlines around the United States and the world. Incarcerated at Oakdale Federal Correctional Institution in Louisiana, he was the first person in U.S. federal custody to die from COVID-19. Patrick, who was affectionately known as "Chop Chop," was born October 8, 1970 to Alice Jones in Temple, Texas. He attended Travis Middle School and Zumwalt High School in Dallas and was a member of St. James Methodist Church in Temple.
Patrick wished to return to his home state of Texas and open a restaurant. He had a wide and varied culinary palate. He enjoyed cooking everything from tacos to brisket to soul food. He loved to experiment in the kitchen, which is how he got his nickname “Chop Chop.” Patrick wasn’t just a wiz in the kitchen but also used to work as an all-around handyman. He took care of yards and loved to fix up cars. One of his sisters especially recalls when they used to love driving around in a black Cadillac he refurbished.
In his last letter of clemency to the court, Patrick wrote:
“83582-1800 has no meaning. It is just a number to be forgotten in time. But Mr. Patrick Estelle Jones is a very good person. Caring, hardworking, free and clean of drugs and a lot smarter now, with a balanced outlook on life. I am a baker, a cook, and reserve many other skills that I can be contributing to society and my community.”
Patrick was hoping to be granted clemency in an effort to help prevent one of his sons from going down a possible path to prison. Patrick wrote in his clemency letter:
“I feel that my conviction and sentence was also a punishment that my child has had to endure also and there are no words for how remorseful I am. Years of 'I am sorry' don't seem to justify the absence of a father or the chance of having purpose in life by raising my child.”
Patrick will be remembered by a large and loving family: his wife, Claudette Crumpton; his mother, Alice Jones; sons, Christopher Walker, Patrick Estell Jones Jr., Kyrell Jones and Jaques Taylor of Killeen; daughters, Danielle Jackson, LaTasha Crumpton, Brehauna Crumpton, and Daijaha Crumpton; four grandchildren; and a host of relatives and friends.
Image of Patrick Jones’ final clemency letter, obtained from Daily Mail.
This memorial was written by MOL team member Joanne DeCaro with information from reporting by Maurice Chammah of The Marshall Project and Seth Freed Wessler of Mother Jones, and Patrick Jones’ obituary by the Branford Dawson Funeral Home.