Dad ‘murdered his five kids then drove around with their bodies in maggot-filled car’
Timothy Jones Jr will stand trial for the murders of his five young children from Monday. His lawyers plan to file an insanity defense
A father murdered his five young children then drove their bodies around for more than a week in a maggot-filled car, police say.
Timothy Jones Jr, 37, reportedly strangled four of his children, Merah, eight, Elias, seven, Nahtahn, six, Gabriel, two and Elaine, one, and beat his fifth young victim to death.
Jones, whose trial is due to start Monday, stuffed the youngster’s corpses in plastic bags after the August 2014 killings, it is alleged
He then set off from his home in Lexington, South Carolina, and drove 700 miles through North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi over the course of the next week, it is alleged.
Before being arrested in Mississippi, Jones reportedly stopped to bury the youngster’s corpses on a rural hillside near Camden, Alabama.
Officers who pulled Jones over at a drink driving checkpoint reported a fetid smell in his car, which was filled with maggots and children’s clothes.
He has been charged with capital murder, meaning he could face the death penalty if convicted.
Jones’ lawyers say he plans to file an insanity defense.
His ex-wife Amber jones claims the killings happened because her children’s father was high on synthetic weed.
The former computer engineer was granted custody of his children after his marriage fell apart.
He is reported to have struggled to care for them, prompting visits from social workers.
But Jones is also said to have tried to take social workers’ guidance on board, and would treat his youngsters to a Disney World holiday, trips to the beach as well as cupcakes for their birthday.
Jury selection will begin Monday, with the trial set to last for most of May.