Police: McKees Rocks woman found in refrigerator was last seen a week ago; boyfriend charged

A McKees Rocks woman whose decomposing body was found in a broken refrigerator Monday was last seen by a neighbor April 29, authorities wrote in a criminal complaint charging the woman’s boyfriend with abuse of a corpse.

Daryl Jones, 41, is being held without bail in Allegheny County Jail on the charge as the county Medical Examiner’s Office investigates how Kristy Jefferson died.

Jefferson, 38, was found in the refrigerator Monday morning by neighbors who noticed a smell in the hallway of the apartment building on Helen Street in McKees Rocks.

Three of the neighbors, including Jones, were in the hallway talking about the smell, police said. When another neighbor suggested they check the fridge, Jones ran into his apartment and shut the door, according to the criminal complaint.

The neighbor found the body and called police. Neighbors told police Jefferson had been staying with Jones for a few weeks and they saw her last Wednesday.

A neighbor had called police on Easter Sunday when she found Jefferson naked in the hallway. She said Jefferson told her that Jones had tried to strangle her, according to the complaint.

Jefferson’s sister filed a missing person’s report April 29 because she hadn’t heard from her sister since April 26, according to the complaint.

Police have been called to the address for disputes between the couple. Jones told police that Jefferson had moved out April 13 and he hadn’t seen her since, according to the complaint.

Authorities also noticed a strong odor coming from the basement of the building. They found a plastic bag with soiled bedding inside a washer and a box with more bags in it. The box contained a change purse, a piece of mail addressed to Jones and a prescription bag with his name on it, along with a datebook that had Jefferson’s name on it.

On the grass outside the window of Jones’ apartment, police found torn pieces of paper, broken pieces of mirror and a Visa card with Jefferson’s name on it, according to the complaint.

Police said they got a warrant to search the apartment and found bedding that matched what was found in the washer and refrigerator.

Jones was set to be arraigned on the abuse of a corpse charge Tuesday afternoon, according to court dockets.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the county police tip line at 833-255-8477. Callers can remain anonymous.