Randolph Sanders
A Philadelphia judge has ordered a Northeast man to stand trial for the premeditated slaying of a social worker to cover up his alleged theft of $40,000 from a human services agency that employed them both.
Randolph Sanders, 36, of the 9100 block of Ryerson Road in the Ashton-Wooden Bridge section, waived his preliminary hearing on Feb. 18. Municipal Court Judge Patrick Dugan ordered Sanders held without bail pending a March 11 Common Pleas Court arraignment. Sanders is charged with first-degree murder and weapons offenses.
Authorities allege that Sanders shot Kim Jones, 56, in the back of the head on Jan. 13 as Jones waited for a SEPTA bus at 12th and Jefferson streets. Jones was Sanders’ supervisor at Turning Points for Children, a Center City-based nonprofit organization. Jones suspected that Sanders had stolen $40,000 from the agency and was planning on reporting the theft, authorities have said.
After the slaying, Sanders reportedly called Jones’ phone and left a message expressing concern for her whereabouts. Sanders attended the woman’s funeral and gave interviews to news reporters during which he described the murder as shocking to the victim’s co-workers.
Homicide detectives used surveillance video to link the killer to a getaway vehicle that resembled Sanders’ 2007 GMC Yukon. They interviewed other Turning Points employees who told of discord between Jones and Sanders. After about two weeks, Sanders reportedly confessed to the crime. ••
