Mindy Jones: A Life Ablaze with Lies and Arson

By Zech Sindt

On November 19, 2024, Mindy Jo Jones was found guilty of first-degree arson and animal abuse in the Allamakee County courtroom. This verdict completes another chapter in a long and troubling saga that has spanned over two decades, leaving a trail of victims and destruction in its wake. Jones has used the names Mindy Bear, Mindy Jacobsen, and Mindy Riley in the past, but the accusations and convictions have followed her relentlessly no matter what she calls herself. 

Jones has been entangled with the legal system for most of her adult life. Her journey began in 1997 with charges of theft and forgery. In 2006, she found herself embroiled in a bizarre and disturbing case involving Mark Yungtum, a former friend who accused her of orchestrating a terrifying attack on him and his home in Sumner, Iowa. Yungtum’s account is disturbing: he claims three masked men assaulted him when he let his dog out at about 10:30 p.m. He says they strangled him with a wire and wooden dowels, and finally set his house on fire. Yungtum claimed this horrifying ordeal was orchestrated by Jones because of unpaid debt. The case ended in a mistrial, leaving many unanswered questions. Yungtum was later convicted of the arson himself in a retrial, but he maintains his innocence to this day, placing the blame squarely on Jones’ shoulders and claiming she manipulated the situation and orchestrated everything about it to her advantage.

A few years later, in 2014, Jones, then using the name Mindy Riley, faced more charges of forgery and theft in Fredericksburg, Iowa. The alleged victims were John and Megan Eimers, a couple who had considered Jones a close friend, a friend they had considered so dear to them that they had included her in their wedding and entrusted her as the godmother to their children. Jones allegedly abused this trust in the most egregious way, gaining access to their farm accounts and systematically stealing over $134,000 through forged checks and unauthorized credit card use. As if this betrayal wasn’t enough, Jones then accused John Eimers of rape during the investigation, a claim that was thoroughly investigated but ultimately led to no charges. In 2016, Jones pleaded guilty to five counts of forgery and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. However, she exploited the legal system, remaining free on an appeal bond and delaying her punishment. Meanwhile, on January 6, 2017, a man by the name of Steven Anthony visited the home of John and Megan Eimers. After a brief discussion, Anthony attempted to kill John Eimers by shooting him at close range. Eimers returned fire and killed Anthony. Although investigators couldn’t find a link between Anthony and Jones, she was taken into custody shortly after the incident. 

After she served her time, Jones’s alleged pattern of manipulative behavior continued with the opening of her retail store, Tin, Rust & Harmony, first in Harmony, Minn., and later in Waukon, Iowa. In 2021, she was accused of orchestrating an illegal raffle for a John Deere UTV Gator, using the guise of charitable donations to fraudulently mislead unsuspecting individuals. Her story changed repeatedly throughout the investigation, revealing a tangled web of inconsistencies and raising serious questions about her intentions. This scheme ultimately led to another conviction for theft-by-swindle.

During this time, Jones also faced accusations from Marsha Angell, a woman who had entrusted her with furniture and decor to sell on consignment at her Harmony store. Angell claimed that Jones owed her over $32,000 and had deliberately misled her with promises and excuses while issuing checks that bounced due to insufficient funds. Angell described how Jones would transfer money between accounts, including her own personal account, seemingly to avoid paying her debts. This case, combined with the illegal raffle, painted a picture of a woman who used her business ventures as a means to further exploit others for financial gain.

In early 2024, Jones finally faced sentencing for her financial crimes in Minnesota. Marsha Angell delivered a powerful victim impact statement, chronicling the devastating impact of Jones’s actions. She described the financial ruin that nearly destroyed her business, the emotional distress that caused her anxiety and depression, and the constant fear for her safety that Jones had instilled in her. Angell’s statement painted a chilling portrait of a woman whose actions had far-reaching consequences, leaving victims in her wake struggling to rebuild their lives. She mentioned other victims who had not come forward because they were in fear of Jones, victims who Jones had threatened, and victims who could not afford attorneys. Jones was sentenced to 27 months in prison.

However, the story doesn’t really end there. Back in February 2022, a tragedy struck the small town of Waukon, Iowa, when a fire erupted in Jones’s Tin, Rust & Harmony store. The blaze quickly spread, engulfing neighboring businesses and causing significant damage to the downtown area. Tragically, a dog residing in an apartment above the store lost its life in the fire. The incident, which required the assistance of multiple fire departments and exhausted the city’s water supply, left a scar on the community.  A boil advisory was issued for the city drinking water, and all classes in the Allamakee Community School District had to be canceled due to the lack of water. A year-long investigation involving local, state, and federal authorities ensued. Finally, in March 2023, Jones was arrested and charged with first-degree arson and animal abuse. The guilty verdict on November 19 confirms her responsibility for this devastating incident, adding another layer of criminal charges to her already extensive and troubling record.

Timeline of Mindy Jo Jones’ Alleged Crimes

• 1997: Charged with theft and forgery.
• 2006: Accused of orchestrating arson and assault on Mark Yungtum’s home.
• 2014: Charged with forgery and theft from John and Megan Eimers.
• 2016: Pleads guilty to forgery and receives a 10-year prison sentence.
• 2021: Convicted of theft-by-swindle for an illegal raffle; accused of writing bad checks to Marsha Angell.
• 2022: A fire destroys her Waukon store, leading to charges of arson and animal abuse.
• 2024: Sentenced to 27 months for financial crimes in Minnesota; found guilty of arson and animal abuse in Iowa.

This timeline reveals a persistent pattern of alleged criminal behavior that has spanned decades and impacted numerous individuals and communities.

Throughout her many years of navigating the legal system, Jones has consistently presented herself as a victim of circumstance, blaming mental health struggles, the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and even a fear of failure for her actions. However, the evidence presented in court, the testimonies of those she has allegedly wronged, and the sheer number of accusations against her paint a very different picture. A pattern of manipulation, deceit, and a blatant disregard for the law emerges, raising serious questions about her character and motivations.

With this latest conviction for arson and animal abuse, Jones will be facing more prison time.  Her sentencing is set for February 3, 2025, at 1 p.m.