He then admitted to the murders committed and led the detectives and investigators through the place where the bodies were dumped and other evidences. Law enforcement officials said the bodiesof the children were stored intotes and a suitcase. Marion County murder investigation shows children stayed with family They went to the house and she's gone. Investigators found his wifes body inside a tote bag in his minivan. Michael Wayne Jones Jr. Arrested For Allegedly Killing Wife And Four Contact Stephanie K. Baer at stephanie.baer@buzzfeed.com. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Michael Wayne Jones: Ocala death penalty case: Trial date set for man accused of killing 4 kids and his wife, Death no more: Off death row: Parties agree to life in prison instead of retrial in Ocala murder case, Over: Ocala courts: Six felony cases resolved. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. 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 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. Those factors, they argue, call for life in prison rather than death. eventAction: 'load' What did Michael Wayne Jones do? Florida man gets death penalty for 2023 www.ocala.com. 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 . hitType: 'event', ga('ads.send', { ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); Stephanie Baer is a reporter with BuzzFeed News and is based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Will Ocala jurors recommend the death penalty for family killer Michael Wayne Jones? A jury on Thursday unanimously recommended that Michael Wayne Jones, the man who admitted killing his wife and four children in 2019, should be sentenced to death. A dad has been sentenced to death for beating his wife to death with a metal baseball bat before strangling his two stepsons and drowning his two biological daughters. Central Florida man accused of killing wife, 4 kids complained of Detectives believe the victims werekilledbetween July 10and the end of August 2019. Assistant State Attorneys Amy Berndt and Rich Buxman are prosecuting the case for the State Attorney's Office. 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. 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. Due to the First Step Act, sentences are being reviewed and recalculated to address pending Federal Time Credit changes. }); Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers' discretion advised. 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. Update 10/8/19 Michael Wayne Jones Jr., who is accused of killing his wife, . window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { Aseparate hearing would then be held for each side to make their arguments before a judge makes the ultimate decision. eventAction: 'view' },false) The lawyers for the defense and the prosecution had numerous people, including experts, testify at the trial. . Officials said more charges were likely as the investigation continues. }); Appearing with his attorney, John Spivey, an executive assistant public. The judge will take that recommendation and sentence Jones at a later date. Advertisement "As a parent it breaks my heart. According to New York Post, Jones put Casei's body in a closet after wrapping it in blankets and storing it in a large tote bag. Circuit Judge Anthony Tatti will factor the recommendation when he imposes sentence at a later date. Additional charges maybe possible. This isnt justice, the family says its bittersweet. The search for a missing Florida mom and her four children came to a tragic end Monday, when authorities discovered all five bodies. Be the first one to comment on this story. Who is Michael Wayne Jones? Jury to decide on Florida man's death On Thursday, the jury found that Michael Wayne Jones should be sentenced to death on four counts of murder. A jury will decide the fate of a Florida man who beat his wife to death with a baseball bat in 2019 before he murdered her four small children over several days and stored their bodies in tote bags. He then put the childs body in a suitcase. Facing a possible death sentence, Michael Wayne Jones has pleaded guilty to killing his wife and their four children. New details released in murder of Marion Co. mother and her four - WCJB The defense lawyer said Jones, whose court appearances have been few and far between since his 2019 incarceration,is also takingmedication while at the Marion County Jail. Jones was sentenced to death for each of the four children's murders. His fate will be decidedby the jury based on the findings of the horrifying slayings. 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. He then began devising plans by dropping the boys, his two stepchildren Preston and Cameron at their father's place and dropping his two daughters Mercalli Jones and Aiyana Jones, two children he shared with his wife Casei at her mother's home. Biography. He said he killed each child at different days and times by strangling or drowning them. At the same hearing, he pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder in the death of his wife, Casei. Published: Sep. 16, 2019 at 8:13 AM PDT. MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of Michael Jones sentenced to life in prison without parole for - YouTube Or to keep it anonymous, click here. Officials said that the children were strangled and drowned on different dates. Marion County has five of those inmates. Florida man gets death penalty for brutal murder of wife and children. Jones, 38,. Michael Wayne. Jones was arrested in Brantley County, Georgia, in September 2019 aftera single-vehicle crash. Inmate Locator - Federal Bureau of Prisons To keep up with the latest local news subscribe to our TV20 newsletter HERE and receive news straight to your email every morning. Nikki reportedly told the deputy that she suspected Jones had harmed the family. Using a basketball bat, he beat his wife to death and went on to murder her four children, storing their dead bodies in tote bags. His interest in film production began when he served as a production assistant during the filming . document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ Jones, who has been behind bars since his arrest in 2019, was granted credit for the 1,322 days he spent in jail for the life sentence in connection to his wife's death. But prosecutors reject those defenses, arguing that the heinous killings warranted his execution. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7c07a5741e4d1be5 He is a graduate of Georgetown University and New York Law School and previously worked in financial securities compliance and Civil Rights employment law. 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. 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. The news release said he left all of the bodies in the home for a few weeks before placing them in his van and keeping them there for the last two weeks before taking the victims to Brantley County, Georgia. Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb. Deputies arrived at their Florida home but found it seemingly vacant. }); He was arrested and charged with her death. The job was completed and the paperwork returned to the court for its review. A judge informed Michael Wayne Jones Jr. of the penalty he faces Tuesday after a grand jury returned an indictment charging him with murdering his wife and her four children. [I]n the following weeks, detectives believe he killed the two oldest children by strangulation and his two youngest children by drowning them, the sheriffs office wrote in a news release following the arrest. Now 30, Bargo is the second youngest person on death row, the state's website indicate. 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. "All we need to know is thats evil, and evil did something, and evil needs to pay for what he did.". The sentencing comes in the wake of a jury unanimously recommending that Michael Wayne Jones be put to death in January 2023. 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. All rights reserved. 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. Attempting to cover up her missing, Jones tried to make it appear that she was active and alive by posting on her social media using her phone. His interest in film production began when he served as a production assistant during the filming . Assistant State Attorneys Amy Berndt and Rich Buxman received hugs and praise from the Bowers family. He later led detectives to the remains of the four missing childrenCameron, "All we need to know is thats evil, and evil did something, and evil needs to pay for what he did, he said, according to. Her husband, Michael Wayne Jones Jr., 38, has been arrested and charged with second degree murder. MARION COUNTY, Fla. . However, the prosecutors have not welcomed these defenses and argues for his execution. "All we need to know is thats evil, and evil did something, and evil needs to pay for what he did," the local sheriff said. The judge will then set a date for a sentencing hearing. Michael Wayne. Jury recommends death for Michael Wayne Jones accused of - MSN Following his arrest in September 2019, in a news release, the sheriffs office noted that Jones had kept the bodies at home for several weeks before transporting them. A day later, Jones was arrested in Brantley County, Georgia, after he was involved in a crash. eventAction: 'render' Detectives identified Jones' husband, Michael Wayne Jones Jr., 38, as a suspect. 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. Casei Jones and her four kids were reported missing over the weekend. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. According to multiple reports, on September 14, 2019, deputies with the Marion County Sheriffs Office responded to a welfare check on Casei and the children. Producer: McQ. Ocala jury: Michael Wayne Jones should be put to death for - Yahoo The last Marion resident sentenced to death was Michael Shane Bargo in 2019 for the brutal killing of 15-year-old Seath Jackson. As of Wednesday,302people only three of whom arewomen are currently on the state's death row, according to the Department of Corrections website. Just over three months after a jury of nine men and three women recommended the death penalty for Michael Wayne Jones Jr., Marion County Circuit Court Judge Anthony Tatti on Friday formally ordered that Jones be executed by the state, court records reviewed by Law&Crime show. Jones was ultimately arrested on September 15, 2019 after he was involved in a single-car accident and a deputy responded to the scene. The judge also sentenced Jones to life in prison without the possibility of parole for murdering Casei. Sentencing trial for Michael Wayne Jones continues as he faces the death penalty, One Class at a Time: Ashley McClellan-Robinson, Gainesville Health and Fitness: Full body workout outdoors. She said he was acting out the norm? As of Thursday,302people were on the state's death row, according to the Department of Corrections website. As a sheriff it angers me," Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods told reporters on Monday. 1:02. 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. }) 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.. Michael Wayne Jones Jr. (News4Jax screenshot). 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. Michael Anthony Morrison (November 23, 1934 - April 2, 2003), better known by his stage name Michael Wayne, was an American film producer and actor. Once inside, deputies immediately detected the foul odor of decomposition, and the area was declared a crime scene. he told detectives. 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. Before the bodies were found Nikki Jones told Fox35 : "I've never ever been so scared. Relatives of Casei Jones reported her and her four children missing Saturday after they hadn't been seen or heard from in six weeks. Casei Jones and her four kids were reported missing over the weekend. Michael Wayne - IMDb Have a tip or story idea? Michael Jones Jr - UPDATE - - YouTube },false) Casei Jones (left) and the four children. Her husband is 38-year-old Michael Wayne Jones. By 2:12 p.m., the judge was informed the jury had reached a verdict. 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. On Wednesday, they listened to closing arguments given by both sides. 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. Casei Jones and the children were reported missing Saturday night after her family became concerned after not seeing them for six weeks. }); }); The girls belonged to the couple, while the boys were from Casei Jones' previous marriage. eventAction: 'click_adunit' So you agree that that information could be very helpful in what his mental state was and what he was thinking? Two defendants still await sentencing. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), During the trial, the jury was presented with evidence in the case to determine whether to issue the death penalty. Two defendants still await sentencing, Assistant State Attorneys Amy Berndt and Rich Buxman, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Jury selection for the case is expected to start on Dec. 5 and is expected to last two or three days. Your login session has expired. :Will Ocala jurors recommend the death penalty for family killer Michael Wayne Jones? Following Fridays nine-minute hearing, Jones attorneys from the public defenders office said they had been preparing their client for this outcome for several weeks and had already filed paperwork with the court to appeal the sentence, the Ocala StarBanner reported. The house is empty. 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. Correct, said Fabian. Facing a possibledeath sentence, Michael Wayne Joneshas pleaded guilty to killing his wife and their four children. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more!