Jurors wanted the defense mitigation list translated from English to Spanish for one juror. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. As a result, an inmate's release date may not be up-to-date. Before leaving the courtroom Thursday, Richard Bowers, father of two of the four murdered children, said since the killings occurred, he has not been able to heal. Sure, Fabian replied. If the jury gives jones the death penalty the decision must be unanimous. He was then drowned in a bathtub and his body was also put in a suitcase.Jones drove with his two young daughters a few days later after the first three heinous killings. Detectives identified Jones' husband, Michael Wayne Jones Jr., 38, as a suspect. Hes a low-functioning guy he doesnt have a lot of cognitive emotional resilience is what I call it. Please logout and login again. Both of their bodies were put in a single tote bag. Jones was sentenced to death for each of the four children's murders. Jurors began deliberating at 9:19 a.m. Thursday after the judge read aloud their instructions. In cross-examining Fabian, prosecutors disagreed, saying Jones was well-functioning and brought up how a family member said jones acted normal after killing his wife. OCALA, Fla. (WCJB) - Michael Wayne Jones entered the Marion County courtroom in a suit and tie after pleading guilty to killing to wife and four children. Relatives of Casei Jones reported her and her four children missing Saturday after they hadn't been seen or heard from in six weeks. Berndt said the defense spent a half of million dollars on experts who speculated on. As a sheriff it angers me," Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods told reporters on Monday. Michael Wayne Jones . Casei Jones and her four children; Cameron Bowers , Preston Bowers, Mercalli Jones, Aiyana Jones were last seen approximately six weeks ago in the local Ocala, FL area. } Marion County has five of those inmates. He then took Georgia andMarion County Sheriffs Office detectives to the childrens bodies. The 41-year-old Jones was detained in Georgia after he was involved in a single-vehicle crash in September 2019. Several days later, Jones told detectives, he drove with his two young daughters and parked outside a police station, planning to turn himself in. His defense attorneys argue that his traumatic upbringing including molestation at the hands of his father and abuse from a violent stepfather damaged his mental health from an early age. The suspect was arrested after he crashed his car. Parents told to scrub Snapchat from kids' phones after Flo Georgia player under fire after racist remark during 2023 NFL Draft on livestream, Dad of crying infant that triggered Texas killing spree 'never thought' gunman would fire, Megyn Kelly sports red MAGA-style hat in poolside pic, Gayle King says she doesnt have a desire to retire: I want more work, WNBA star Brittney Griner is heading to the Met Gala, Mariah Carey celebrates Moroccan and Monroes 12th birthday: My babies, NY Post Sports Reporter Zach Braziller breaks down the Knicks game 1 loss to the Heat, Elon Musk Tells Bill Maher Woke Mind Virus Is Dangerous On Real Time, Kendall Jenner rocks sheer top, fur mini skirt for date night with Bad Bunny. As of Wednesday,302people only three of whom arewomen are currently on the state's death row, according to the Department of Corrections website. Thanks for contacting us. Jones, of Summerfield, was escorted by a bailiff out of the courtroom. Paul Bloom told BuzzFeed News that investigators believe Jones fled on Sunday after the sheriff's office issued a missing persons alert. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Her husband, Michael Wayne Jones Jr., 38, has been arrested and charged with second degree murder. Offense 1 Time service requirement: THEFT BY UNLAWFUL TAKING OR DISPOSITION > $500 AND < $10,000 Incomplete offense information found; Indictment #: 22-CR-00004 . }) Two defendants still await sentencing, Assistant State Attorneys Amy Berndt and Rich Buxman, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The nine men and three women announced the recommendation just shy of five hours after they started discussing the case. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. The jury trial continues next week with more defense witnesses. Update 10/8/19 Michael Wayne Jones Jr., who is accused of killing his wife, . if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ Michael Wayne Jones Jr. (News4Jax screenshot). Jones' attorney expects to deliver his defense the first week of January, which will include 18 witnesses, seven experts and a team of medical professionals. MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of Michael Wayne Jones Jr., 38, who has been charged with murdering his wife, Casei Jones, also was charged Monday with four counts of first-degree premeditated . ga('ads.send', { Once inside though they detected the foul odour of decomposition and a crime scene was established. ga('ads.send', { A sister of Casei Jones testified at the trial last week, tearfully telling the court that her nephew Cameron was a sweet, loving little guy, according to the outlet. Tatti sentenced Jones to death for each of the four childrens murders. Two defendants still await sentencing. Berndt said what Jones did to the children were cold, calculated and premediated. Advertisement Michael W. Jones Jr., 38, was arrested after a traffic stop in Georgia. Assistant State Attorneys Amy Berndt and Rich Buxman are prosecuting the case for the State Attorney's Office. Your login session has expired. Jerry Lambe is a journalist at Law&Crime. As per the Ocala Star Banner, Jones was the biological father to two young daughters, and the two older boys were his wife's sons from another relationship. Once inside, deputies immediately detected the foul odor of decomposition, and the area was declared a crime scene. Texas shooting: Police release photo of suspect after five dead including 8-year-old boy, Follow the Mirror US News page on Facebook, British star judge of MasterChef Australia Jock Zonfrillo found DEAD at age 46 - as Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver lead tributes, BREAKING: Man, 49, who got trapped in adventure centre indoor cave dies of his injuries, British gardeners are being warned not to mow their lawns during May and June, Marcus Rashford hailed as "a gent" for rescuing Aston Villa Women's star on night out, Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler accused of 'racist' comment about Son Heung-min, BREAKING: 'Gentle giant' rugby player killed in mass stabbing frenzy outside Cornwall nightclub is named, BREAKING: Donald Trump arrives in Scotland in first UK trip amid ongoing rape trial. Both jurors said they had no issues. He later confessed to killing the children and led detectives to where he hid the remains. :Will Ocala jurors recommend the death penalty for family killer Michael Wayne Jones? Sentence Length: 5 years 0 months 0 days Michael Wayne Jones Jr. (News4Jax screenshot) A state judge in Florida has sentenced a 41-year-old man to death for beating his wife to death with a metal baseball bat, then strangling his 9-year-old and 4-year-old stepsons to death and drowning his 2-year-old and 11-month-old biological daughters. A day later, Jones was arrested in Brantley County, Georgia, after he was involved in a crash. hitType: 'event', Sheriffs officials said Jones drownedor strangledthe children at different times on separate days. Authorities believe the murders occurredbetween July 10and the end of August 2019. Questions flew while Jones walked from the sheriff's office to the cruiser which took him to jail, but he remained silent and barely looked up. Detectives believe Jones killed his family at their home in Summerfield, Florida, sometime in the last several weeks before moving the bodies to his van and driving north to Georgia. School principal Chris Christensen jumped to death to end 'toxic' marriage to 'abusive' wife, says daughter, Who was Andrei Kisliak? window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { He later confessed to killing the children and led detectives to the locations where he discarded their bodies, police said. They went to the house and she's gone. This comes five months after vile Michael Wayne Jones Jr. pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder in the childrens deaths and one count of second-degree murder in wife Casei Jones death. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! eventAction: 'click_image_ads' Appearing with his attorney,John Spivey, an executive assistant public defender,Jones entered his plea tofive counts of murder in front of Circuit Judge Anthony Tatti. He added that jones dropped out of school at 16, has a low IQ score and his academic skills are equivalent to a 6th grader. ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); She also described their two sisters as princesses., 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, NFL linebackers 2-year-old daughter drowns in pool, Severe thunderstorms, tornadoes possible along East Coast, including I-95 corridor, on Sunday, Golfers get chippy over foursomes slow pace of play, throwing wild kicks and punches on Florida course, Tornado flips cars as it touches down in South Florida. Jones was initially detained on Sept. 15 in Georgia after the vehicle he was driving crashed into another car. According to court documents, officers went to the family home in September 2019 to conduct a welfare check on Casei and the children after Casei's mum Nikki Jones became concerned. Marion County Sheriff's Office, Detectives believe he stored the bodies at his home and in his van for several weeks before transporting them to Brantley County, Georgia, the Marion County Sheriffs Office said in, "You may want to put me in handcuffs because there was a dead body (inside the vehicle)" he allegedly told deputies, according to, The sheriffs office confirmed the body of his 32-year-old wife Casei Jones was found inside. Contact Austin L. Miller ataustin.miller@starbanner.com. document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ Her husband Michael Wayne Jones Jr. is now in custody for their deaths. eventAction: 'click_ads' This came after Casei's mother, Nikki Jones, alerted the authorities saying that she hadn't heard from them for several weeks. Ocala death penalty case:Trial date set for man accused of killing 4 kids and his wife. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Michael Wayne. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), But prosecutors reject those defenses, arguing that the heinous killings warranted his execution. Without the need for a trial to adjudicate his guilt, jurors were only brought in during the penalty phase of the case to decide whether Jones should be sentenced to life in prison without parole or be sentenced to death. Casei Jones husband, Michael Wayne Jones Jr., 38, has been arrested and is suspected of killing all five in their Florida home weeks before the bodies were discovered in Georgia. Michael Jones was taken into custody after he had a traffic accident in Brantley County, Georgia and allegedly warned authorities they might make a gruesome discovery in the vehicle. So you agree that that information could be very helpful in what his mental state was and what he was thinking? Casei Jones and her four kids were reported missing over the weekend. } Preston was choked with a zip tie the following day. }); His interest in film production began when he served as a production assistant during the filming . Michael Wayne Jones, 41, has already pleaded guilty to the shocking slayings, and the panel will now decide if he gets life in prison or the death sentence at his ongoing penalty phase. Correct, said Fabian. OCALA, Fla. (WCJB) - Michael Wayne Jones entered the Marion County courtroom in a suit and tie after pleading guilty to killing to wife and four children. Advertisement "As a parent it breaks my heart. Deputies arrived at their Florida home but found it seemingly vacant. The trial took a break for the Christmas holidays and resumed on Jan. 5 with the defense presenting its case. I don't want anything to have happened to her.". . Aseparate hearing would then be held for each side to make their arguments before a judge makes the ultimate decision. The house is empty. On Friday, during a hearing at the Marion County Judicial Center in Ocala, Circuit Judge Anthony Tatti sentenced Jones to death for the deaths of the four children. He was arrested and charged with her death. Officials also did not say how they or their mother were killed. October 7, 2019. Michael Wayne was the eldest son of John Wayne and his first wife, Josephine Alicia Saenz, the daughter from a socially prominent Latina family living in Los Angeles. We are one of the worlds fastest growing As of Thursday,302people were on the state's death row, according to the Department of Corrections website. He later led detectives to the remains of the four children Cameron, 10, Preston, 5, Mercalli, 2, and Aiyana, 1 officials said. Casei Jones and the children were reported missing Saturday night after her family became concerned after not seeing them for six weeks. An interrogation video of the Marion County man accused of killing his wife and four kids, 38-year-old Michael Wayne Jones Jr., shed new light onto possible motives in which he explained his . Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Jones said she had not seen or heard from her daughter or grandchildren in several weeks and was concerned that Michael Jones had done something to them.. A state judge in Florida has sentenced a 41-year-old man to death for beating his wife to death with a metal baseball bat, then strangling his 9-year-old and 4-year-old stepsons to death and drowning his 2-year-old and 11-month-old biological daughters. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ Be the first one to comment on this story. With the plea, prosecutors saidinstead of having a trial, the next step isthe penalty phase where a jury of 12 peoplewould determine whether Jones spends the rest of his life behind bars or is put to death. 86th Terrace, deputies declared the area a crime scene after they found foul odor emanating from the residence that was reportedly vacant. All rights reserved. Jones was arrested in Brantley County, Georgia, in September 2019 aftera single-vehicle crash. Police also stated that he left the bodies in the home for a few weeks before placing them in his van. Jones has been detained at the Marion County Jail since he was extradited to Florida from Georgia. He led them to the remains of the four children Aiyana, one; Mercalli Jones, two; Preston, five; and Cameron Bowers, 10, near Brantley County in Georgia. hitType: 'event', Michael Wayne Jones, 38, of Summerfield, Florida, is accused in connection with the death of his wife Casei Jones, 32 and their four children, Cameron Bowers, 10, Preston Bowers, 5, Mercali. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. },false) MICHAEL WAYNE JONES JR MICHAEL WAYNE JONES II Conviction Information. }); The state will seek the death penalty for Michael W. Jones Jr. OCALA A grand jury on Monday indicted Michael W. Jones Jr. on a second-degree murder charge for the slaying of his wife, Casei . }); Now 30, Bargo is the second youngest person on death row, the state's website indicate. Correct, Fabian replied. eventAction: 'view' pg.acq.push(function() { The lawyers for the defense and the prosecution had numerous people, including experts, testify at the trial. This week, a jury is deciding whether a Summerfield man who pleaded guilty to killing his wife and their four children should be sentenced to death. Jones, 38,. At the time, he told law enforcement that his wife's body was inside the vehicle and later confessed to killing their four children before leading them to the site where he had left the bodies. Find an inmate. The nine men and. The 41-year-old Summerfield man was charged with first-degree murder for each of the children, while given a second-degree charge for his wife,Casei Jones. Executive Assistant Public Defender John Spivey, surrounded by fellow defense lawyers Morris Carranza and Amanda Sizemore and medical specialist Amanda Stickey, took turns hugging Jones. As per Law & Crime, during questioning, Jones confessed to the crimes, adding that he killed his wife with a metal baseball bat. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. When asked about her grandchildren, she said: "They're my whole world, just like my kids. 2023 www.ocala.com. What did Michael Wayne Jones do? The judge also sentenced Jones to life in prison without the possibility of parole for murdering Casei. The sheriffs office confirmed the body of his 32-year-old wife Casei Jones was found inside. But with the school year fast approaching, Jones grew concerned that the boys absence would spark questions from staffers at Fruitland Park Elementary. We've received your submission. Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. Planning to turn himself in, he parked outside a police station. He then put the childs body in a suitcase. Michael Wayne Jones, 41, from Florida pleaded guilty to killing his 32-year-old wife Casei Jones, and her four children 10-year-old Cameron Bowers, five-year-old Preston Bowers, two-year-old Mercalli Jones, and one-year-old Aiyana Jones in 2019. Follow the Mirror US News page on Facebook to make sure you're not missing out. Jones allegedly told authorities with the Brantley County Sheriffs Office that he'd concealed the bodies of the children in the woods shortly before the crash. A Florida man has been arrested for allegedly killing his wife and their four young children, whose bodies were discovered after he was involved in a car crash. He took them to where he left the children's remains. DOC records show 27.4 years is the average age at the time of the offense for executed inmates, and for execution, the average age is 44.9 years. Michael Wayne Jones Jr. has been now been charged with one count of Second-degree Premedated in the deaths of his wife Casei Jones. hitType: 'event', On Friday Marion County Circuit Court Judge Anthony Tatti ordered Jones be executed by the state. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { Other family members also cried. The next day, Jones said, he choked Preston with a zip tie before drowning him in a bathtub and then putting his corpse into a suitcase. In 2019, Michael Wayne Jones, a 41-year-old man from Summerfield, Florida, killed his wife, Casei, and their four children, Cameron Bowers, 9, his brother, Preston Bowers, 4, and sisters Mercalli Jones, 2, and 11-month-old Aiyana Jones. Investigators found his wifes body inside a tote bag in his minivan. The following day, Jones took his two stepchildren, Preston Bowers, 4, and Cameron Bowers, 8, to stay with their father as he frantically devised a plan to cover up his wifes murder. Producer: McQ. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Jones told arresting officers that the horrific killing spree kicked off in July 2019 after his wife, Casei Jones, accused him of infidelity after looking through his phone. MEAWW previously reported that the authorities questioned Jones after they discovered the bodies in Brantley County, Georgia, where he transported the bodies from his home around 140 miles north of Marion County. Shortly after the killings, Jones was charged with first-degree murder for each of the children and second-degree murder for his wife's death. He performed the bungee jump in the opening scenes in the James Bond film GoldenEye.The opening 220 m bungee jump, shot at the Verzasca Dam in Switzerland, was voted the best movie stunt of all time as of 2002 and set a record for the highest bungee jump off a fixed structure. She told you quote his behavior was fairly typical for Michael right? }); Casei Jones and her four kids were reported missing over the weekend. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. Michael Wayne Jones Jr. is being held at the Marion County Jail, where he has stayed since being charged with 2nd Degree Homicide for the death of his wife. The two younger childrenwere Jones daughters. Marion County Sgt. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), I dont know, just everything mounted up and it seemed like the way out, Jones told the investigators when asked about his motive behind the murders, according to Martin County Sheriffs Office documents. He recounted to police that she poked him with a baseball bat during an escalating argument in their Marion County home, and that he beat her to death with it in a rage. Casei Jones (left) and the four children. He also murdered his wife Casei Jones.. The defense begins its turn with John Spivey, a lawyer for the Public Defenders Office . He later led detectives to the remains of the four missing childrenCameron Bowers, 10, Preston Bowers, 5, Mercalli Jones, 2, and Aiyana Jones, 1. window.adsContainer = {"position2":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Above_Next_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position3":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_ATF_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position4":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position5":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle1_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position6":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle2_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position7":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle3_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position8":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle4_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position9":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle5_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position10":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle6_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position11":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle7_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position12":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle8_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position13":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle9_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position14":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle10_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position15":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle11_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position16":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle12_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250}} Have a tip or story idea? With a Spanish speaking juror on the panel, the judge wanted to find out from the foreman and the juror if there were any communication problems. The body was then put in a suitcase. Following. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter. Detectives said Jones then admitted to the killing of the couples four children:Cameron Bowers, 8; Preston Bowers, 4;Mercalli Jones, 2;and her 11-month-old sister, Aiyana Jones. On Sunday, Michael Jones crashed his van near Brantley County in southeast Georgia, about 150 miles north of . His defense attorneys called neuropsychologist Dr. John Fabian to discuss Jones' mental illnesses. They assert that Jones who also has three kids from a prior marriage entered a psychotic spiral that culminated in the murders. Jones, in December, pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder in the childrens deaths and one count of second-degree murder in Caseis death.