Man arrested in 1976 missing student case

<p>After nearly three decades, an arrest has been made in the case of a 22-year-old Auburn University student who went missing in 1976 and was presumed killed.</p><p>Jimmy Earl Jones, 63, was charged with concealing the death of Kyle Clinkscales, hindering the apprehension of a criminal and two counts of false statements and concealment of the facts, authorities said.</p><p>Jones will appear for a preliminary hearing on May 4.</p><p>Jones is believed to have known about Clinkscales' death and who killed him. He also is accused of helping conceal or move the body of Clinkscales, according to an arrest warrant.</p><p>In addition, Jones is believed to have been present when Clinkscales died, said Sheriff Donny Turner.</p><p>But Jones has denied having any knowledge of the crime in 1996 when deputies excavated some of the property of Ray Hyde and drained a nearby pond in an effort to find Clinkscales' remains and his 1976 Ford Pinto, Turner said. Hyde died in July 2001.</p><p>The search for Clinkscales' body was expected to continue Wednesday. Sheriff's deputies have been searching a timber company pond since Friday in La Grange in hopes of finding the student's remains inside a 55-gallon drum weighted with concrete.</p><p>Jones also maintained his innocence when he was interviewed by police twice last month, the sheriff said.</p><p>Clinkscales' parents said they were happy to hear of new developments in the 29-year-old case.</p><p>"We are hoping the arrest will lead to some sort of resolution _ not the one we wanted, but better than what we've had," said Clinkscales' father, John.</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x3866780)</p>

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