LEXINGTON, S.C.—A father who police said killed his five young children in their South Carolina home and then drove their bodies around for more than a week is about to stand trial for his life.
Jury selection is set to begin Monday in Lexington County in the death penalty case of Timothy Jones Jr.
Jones is charged with five counts of murder for killing his children, ages 8, 7, 6, 2 and 1, in their Lexington home in August 2014. Indictments said he strangled four of them and beat the other.
Death penalty trial upcoming for father accused of killing 5 kids in Lexington County https://t.co/bIc3N6B0WC #scnews pic.twitter.com/hwRHLfuaiX
— The Post and Courier (@postandcourier) November 26, 2017
Jones then wrapped the bodies in plastic bags, put them in the back of his SUV and drove around the Southeast for a week, logging more than 700 miles through North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and finally Mississippi where he was arrested, authorities said
Well into the trip, Jones buried his children on a rural hillside near Camden, Alabama, police said.
When he was arrested at a drunken driving checkpoint in Smith County, Mississippi, an officer smelled a terrible odor and found blood, maggots, and children’s clothes in the SUV, authorities said.
Jones’ lawyers have filed court papers saying he plans an insanity defense. Jury selection will likely take most, if not all this week.
Jones, 37, was a software engineer and was given custody of his children after his marriage started to fall apart.
Smith county Sheriff Charlie Crumpton says Timothy Ray Jones will be transferred to S.C. authorities later today. pic.twitter.com/pbFrgWAzvX
— David Kenney (@WLBT_DKenney) September 10, 2014
The computer engineer struggled as a single father, according to records from the Department of Social Services, whose employees visited the home a dozen times in three years.
But Jones also worked to correct the problems as social workers found them. There were trips to Disney World and the beach and a birthday party with cupcakes detailed in those records along with a mark on one of the children and a report they were made to exercise excessively as punishment.
“Dad appears to be overwhelmed as he is unable to maintain the home, but the children appear to be clean, groomed, and appropriately dressed,” wrote the caseworker, who name was blacked out, in a report filed two weeks before police said the children were killed.
His ex-wife, Amber Jones, who is the children’s mother, in August filed a lawsuit against several businesses she alleges sold him synthetic marijuana, or spice. The lawsuit states Timothy Jones was under the influence of the drug at the time of the killings.
She also filed suit against the state Department of Social Services last year, claiming the agency received multiple reports of child abuse and knew Timothy Jones was a threat but failed to protect the kids. He had primary custody of the children.
Gates, the South Lake Drive resident, is often reminded of the Jones children, who were always quiet and polite when they played with her boys. She thinks of the family when she spots a black Cadillac Escalade, like the SUV Jones drove, and when families with young kids move into the neighborhood.
Gates’ eyes filled with tears as she explained how the killings changed her worldview, causing her to be more suspicious of others.
“I hope with all my heart it never happens again here, or anywhere for that matter,” she said, “but definitely not so close to home. I pray for that all the time.”
The trial could take most of May. If jurors find Jones guilty of murder, the same jury will then hear testimony about whether he should be sentenced to life in prison or the death penalty.
