Overview
- An Ellis County grand jury returned indictments on March 4 for Madison Paige Jones, 30, on 19 counts and Zackery Dondlinger, 37, on 20 counts tied to the alleged abuse of a 5-year-old girl.
- Following the indictments, judges raised Jones’ bond to $3.84 million and set Dondlinger’s at $5 million, with both defendants remaining in custody.
- Court affidavits state Jones confessed to abusing the child at Dondlinger’s direction and that she recorded and sent videos via Snapchat.
- Investigators report finding corroborating text messages and say they seized Jones’ iPhone and iPad as well as two iPhones belonging to Dondlinger.
- Authorities say the alleged abuse occurred between Dec. 5 and Dec. 17, 2025, with Jones arrested Dec. 19 and Dondlinger arrested Dec. 23; the school district confirms Jones had limited substitute work and no district students appear involved.