A British Electrical Engineer living in New York killed his American wife and 12-year-old daughter and then shot himself in the chest with a shotgun, said a judicial inquiry.
Steven Jones is the suspect of the double murder-suicide that occurred on Dec. 14 of last year.
Steven Jones has been identified as the Bellston Spa man who fatally shot his wife, Jennifer Jones, and his daughter, Emma Jones, before shooting himself, in a murder-suicide that has shocked the area. https://t.co/EWEiddWJ2v pic.twitter.com/pPawjQWWxw
— Trending Gist (@todaytrail) December 16, 2018
He wrote a letter appearing to apologize in advance for what he would be carrying out. He said he was doing it “to protect Emma,” his daughter.
GlobalFoundries, where Jones was employed, became concerned that he hadn’t shown up for work and had police carry out a welfare check.
Police found him dead at the Jones property with a 12-gauge shotgun beside him reported Mirror.
Jennifer, 43, his American wife and Emma were found dead by multiple gunshot wounds in separate bedrooms upstairs. Jennifer was an occupational therapist.
Memorial remembers Jennifer and Emma Jones at their Ballst Spa home where husband and father Steven Jones kill them and himself. @timesunion pic.twitter.com/YQn4Pr68IN
— Wendy Liberatore (@wendyliberatore) December 20, 2018
There was blood everywhere in the crime scene room, and the police discovered multiple used shotgun shells, according to an inquest at Doncaster Coroners’ Court.
Steven Jones sent an email to his old friend—Kenneth Petch.
He wrote: “Hi mum and dad, this is Steve. I do this to protect Emma. It’s taken me 18 years, but I realize that I have wandered down the wrong path with the wrong person and that I have been manipulated for too long. I cannot bear the thought of this happening to a special 12-year-old, and if I don’t intervene, she will be left to the wolves all alone. You were wonderful parents, none of this is your fault or could have been prevented. I’m sorry to produce such chaos, but hopefully, there are good memories too. I remember many happy times during our visits. You always made us feel welcome and loved. Please focus on the good times; there were truly many good times. I do this to protect Emma. Love Steve.”
BREAKING: Police held a press conference today in Ballston Spa. The names of the victims in the double murder/ suicide have been released: Emma Jones (12 years old), and her parents Jennifer and Steven Jones. The investigation is on-going. #WTEN pic.twitter.com/kr8RAPI7rt
— Jamie DeLine (@JamieDeLineNews) December 15, 2018
A memorial sits outside the Jones family home on Adams Circle. A sign reads “Angel Emma We love you.”
Police say Emma Jones, 12 and her mother Jennifer Jones, 43 were killed by her father Steven Jones, 46. They say he then killed himself. Police discovered their bodies Friday. pic.twitter.com/kuepJi2kzO
— Jaclyn Cangro (@JaclynCangro) December 17, 2018
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Murder-Suicide in San Jose, California
In a separate incident last month, five people were killed in California in an apparent murder-suicide after a four-hour standoff, San Jose police said.
Chi Dinh Ta, 66, reportedly shot and killed a group of three women and one man; Le Thuy Hoang, 51, of Milpitas; Thanh Hoa Hoang, 23; Thi Que Pham, 42, and Phung Ngoc Hoang, 28, reported CBS SF.
San Jose police responded to reports of a shooting at around 8:30 p.m. on June 23, at the 500 block of Habbitts Court home. Officers reported witnessing who they believe were family members, fleeing the residence.
After killing the four victims, Le Thuy turned the gun on himself and died of a gunshot wound to the head, police said.
Suicide a Leading Cause of Death in the U.S.
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report—Vital Signs: Trends in State Suicide Rates on June 8, 2018, revealing that suicide rates have increased by 30 percent since 1999. However, the report points out that there are a variety of factors other than mental health conditions that lead to suicide.
“Suicide rates increased significantly across most states during 1999–2016. Various circumstances contributed to suicides among persons with and without known mental health conditions,” the report stated.
The Epoch Times reporter Isabel Van Brugen contributed to this report
