GUILTY SC - Five Jones children, ages 1-8, Lexington County, 28 Aug 2014 *Father Arrested*

[SnoopyDawgDawg]

The CBS report:

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/lawyer-accused-child-killer-being-portrayed-like-a-monster/

Lawyer: Accused child killer being "portrayed like a monster"

Sitting. On. Hands.

 

[Fairy1]

He's scared because he murdered his own babies and has been caught. He IS a monster. Suicide watch? Well......

 

[Curious Me]

The CBS report:

Lawyer: Accused child killer being "portrayed like a monster"

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/lawyer-accused-child-killer-being-portrayed-like-a-monster/

Sitting. On. Hands.

Lawyer: Accused child killer being "portrayed like a monster"


My hands refuse to be still.

:yes: He is one! Pleeasse, don't ask me to try to have touchy-feely sympathy or understand this killer of his own five children. He's what I call a MONSTER.

Just My Own Opinion, of course.

 

[Ronso]

He's scared because he murdered his own babies and has been caught. He IS a monster. Suicide watch? Well......

Should've tried that whole suicide thing instead of murdering his children.

I have no words.

 

[Curious Me]

Photo of the Memorial Service

Mourners released balloons at the end of memorial service for the five Jones children on Friday
http://www.people.com/article/murdered-kids-memorial-service-mississippi

 

[Fairy1]

Was the mother at the memorial service? Grandparents?

 

[Curious Me]

Excuse me, but what a ridiculous statement, as though there's some logical, benign reason he killed his five children and stuffed them in trash bags. I'd have to be the one suffering mental illness to consider that there's a good explanation. I'd guess maybe Spice had something to do with his mental state.


South Carolina father, jailed in kids' deaths, in 'mental disarray': lawyer
http://news.yahoo.com/south-carolina-father-jailed-kids-deaths-mental-disarray-180246468.html

"We are concerned that he is suffering from an untreated mental illness," lawyer Aimee Zmroczek, who was hired by Jones's family, said in an interview. "He's already been judged, and they're not asking the questions as to why this happened or how this happened."

BBM

 

[Ontario Mom]

Whatever he's "suffering" from, whether it be untreated mental illness or simply being a drug user, when one slaughters 5 babies, drives around with their dead bodies in their car, tosses them onto the side of the road like trash and then attempts to clean up the evidence in the vehicle, a decent society does tend to judge that person and rightfully so. Then there is the handful of folks that will coddle the man and make excuses for him, as if you can excuse away being a murderer by slapping a clinical label on him.

 

[PaperDoll]

The CBS report:

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/lawyer-accused-child-killer-being-portrayed-like-a-monster/



Sitting. On. Hands.

Really? a monster? What is considered a monster? Kids are afraid of monsters because a monster can harm them and that is exactly what their dad did, he harmed them by killing them. I would consider that a monster...

 

[PaperDoll]

Whatever he's "suffering" from, whether it be untreated mental illness or simply being a drug user, when one slaughters 5 babies, drives around with their dead bodies in their car, tosses them onto the side of the road like trash and then attempts to clean up the evidence in the vehicle, a decent society does tend to judge that person and rightfully so. Then there is the handful of folks that will coddle the man and make excuses for him, as if you can excuse away being a murderer by slapping a clinical label on him.

I agree, I'm so sick and tired of all these "monsters who kill" start claiming mental insanity. This guy was using drugs and some drugs can cause a person to act differently, but HE IS CHOOSING TO TAKE THE DRUGS!!! His choice and only his choice.. Sorry but that is my rant! I get so tired of people blaming others/mental issues blah blah blah on their behavior instead of taking responsibility for their own choices and actions.. :tantrum:

 

[poppygirl]

Portrayed as a monster? Just who exactly is doing this 'portraying'? He murdered his own children - he IS a monster.

 

[OkieGranny]

http://www.thestate.com/2014/09/12/3676577_jones-waives-initial-court-appearance.html?rh=1

Wilcox County District Attorney Michael Jackson in Alabama told The State newspaper on Friday that investigators “believe it (the cause of death) was strangulation.”

But Jackson said later that investigators could not be sure because the bodies were so decomposed when they were found Tuesday along a road in the rural area.

Solicitor Donnie Myers, who will prosecute Jones in Lexington County, said he, too, had heard that the children were strangled. “I have not seen the autopsy reports,” Myers said. “I’ve heard something about strangulation.”

 

[LietKynes]

Wow. So many good and insightful posts ! Agree totally that he is a monster.
Not even an animal... lower than that. We have pets that have been excellent parents ; while we were growing up,one of our Bantam chickens raised a clutch of chicks and she'd not even leave them to go eat/drink, once they were snuggled under her wings at night.
Animals do not know good from evil. This Tim did.

Watched a documentary on the Lacey Peterson murder trial, and one thing that stood out to me was, witnesses for Scott P. would say, "...the Scott I knew..." Always in the past reference.

Maybe his (Tim's) parents knew him differently -- in the past. My opinion is they may have excused his behavior one time too many.
:moo:

 

[CARIIS]

I can understand all of our frustration with the system. Trust me , it was cumbersome interacting with the system from a professional standpoint as well.


IMO, the core problem here is money. Social services is hideously underfunded resulting in the simple reality that it cannot do what it is supposed to do in a timely manner.


IMO, it is important to remember that these agencies, years ago, were established not to separate families but to “reunify” them . The notion here is that if one gives the parents the”tools” to parent in a non abusive manner – keep the family intact.


Permanent removal of parental control is the last resort. It is also a legal entity. It is cumbersome, bureaucratic , non user friendly and about documentation documentation doc
documentation -endless.


For the caseworker their roles are similar to LE. By that I mean they are not greeted with open arms, wanted, not viewed as a ally but an enemy. If often took the caseworker time to just get in touch with them at the onset.


They are greeted with open hostility, aggression. Obviously not a good start to hypothetically working together to fascinate the parents parenting in a non abusive manner. Moreover, family members are afraid, not forthcoming, manipulative. Often the kids are overtly coached how to deal with the cw or “sense' mommy or daddy or whomever don't “like” this person and are protective and guarded.


So from the get go it sure is not on a good path to its hypothetical goal in the first place.


Their caseloads are not doable. That simple. So that system is a set up to fail -- no followup in a timely manner. The burn out rate and low pay results in a really high turnover. This impacts the entire mess in profound ways.


If the cw is somewhat skilled, and through time able to establish some trust with participants things might move forward. This takes time. But with cw constantly resigning, their caseloads constantly be taken over by new hires all that trust has to start over.


Every cw is an individual. So in the cw roles what one cw might view as possibly danger to the kids the new one might be view it as very dangerous. This results in endless changes and confusion in terms of the parents, the kids in keeping up with what needs to occur in order to get their children back or keep custody. Think changing teachers every 6 weeks – a mess.


It goes without saying the powerless children should be removed when in danger. The sad reality here is first there must be a location to move them to. With money the core problem this does truly impact the whole mess from the start.


It results in like the system kind of having to chose which children get the benefit of safety first- only limited placements space etc. The more overt visible undeniable abused children get removed quicker and easier. It is wrong but a reality guys.


The custodian of the child in most instances fights this all the way. If for the “there my kids” mentality “butt out” notion. “You cant take my kids away “ etc etc etc -hostile.


Realistically, socioeconomic dynamics play out here also. . In many ways. In determining removal the ability of a parent to provide food clothes is different if there is money or welfare is the method of survival.


Covertly the agency staff “know” that they had better be better “documented” for the family that have the means, knowledge, skill set to fight the revocation of parietal rights. The system tries (and fails ) not separate siblings. This too. has a “capability” component as a result of inadequate funding and options.


There must be months and finding after finding after finding before the process can EVEN start. It then resembles our criminal system – slow, burdensome and riddled with delay after delay. The endless staff turnover impacts and delays this part of the process – so does a change of a judge, a therapist or relocation to another jurisdiction – which often happens because it often ends up being the only option- a single parent needing to move in with family or friends to supply a better environment for the children. Meanwhile the children are being thrown all over the place. Schools are changing , rules where they live are changing, friends are changing.


With all this fear and uncertainty surrounding the children they tend to act out making even temporary placement more difficult. If the parent can make it through some of the initial treatment plan , (cleaner home, better school attendance etc etc) then the system returns them.


Then it is not until the system is made aware that problems remain then the cycle starts all over again. Usually with a different cw. By this point the children are even less forthcoming and more guarded with the cw – the last one took them away from their mommy and brother.


So..........now the case at the point where the agency begins (often years) the process to revoke rights, and lets say months and months later that is accomplished then comes the foster care wreck.


They too are in short supply, and frankly many who go through the training, evaluations etc are in earnest doing it to get a paycheck at the end of the month. The frequency of abuse both sexual and physical in foster care is numbing.


Foster parents also have a return policy. They can return a child if they cant handle the child, are afraid of the child , or the child is harming another child in the foster home. Again total turmoil for the children. Increasing escalation on the child part – harder to place and so it goes.


Many of my kids had no clue where their brothers or sisters were, there mom or dad is and have lived in 9 homes the last two years.


Criminal activity is the next step in the poor child existence , which then adds another whole mess into the problem.


And on and on it goes –the only real solution is more funding and that is unlikely – it is a sad state of affairs and the real victims here are the children ...................................

It is a mess guys.

I just took these from first result on google there may be nuance but nationwide the premises are the same:

agency’s primary responsibility is to remove risk from children, not children from risk.

question is not “is the child happy,” but rather, “is the child safe?”

workers should consider the possibility of first reducing the risk of harm to the child through the provision of services in the home.

the decision whether to remove a child, social workers should evaluate the risk of harm to the child in the home compared to the harm that will be caused by the removal.


This is the dance: criteria determining safety should be objective and behaviorally specific, and documented on the Safety Assessment, Family Risk Assessment, Case Decision Making Summary/Initial Case Plan, Family Risk Reassessment and Family Reunification Assessment.

This is all paperwork which takes a lot of time for them to get to even go to a next step

Court should remove children when the family cannot or will not improve the level of care, despite services provided,

Basically there first step must be to offer educationial stuff (again time is passing)


removal should be approached with great caution. Removal will never be in the child’s best interest unless the removal is part of an overall plan, not only for safety but alsofor a timely, appropriate and permanent resolution.


this is the agencies whole approach to the problem --- last resort

.....of at least a minimally sufficient level of care. ( this is them not me!)

....Grief is a persistent issue for children and families who have been disrupted. Grieving takes energy. For children in placement, the energy they use in grieving takes away from developmentally normal behavior.

The child’s “best interest” is always connected to the goal of permanency. A permanent home assures commitment and continuity in a child’s life.....

It is I think, the opposite of what most think in terms of the way the system is set up - in the beginning I sure was shocked when I read a chart in the beginning.................still abhorent...........................but the system comes in from the opposite end ............................removal last.............better be documented.............better be signed off by supervisors....................checked with legal folks...................etc etc

sad...................

http://info.dhhs.state.nc.us/olm/manuals/dss/csm-10/man/CSs1201c4-03.htm

 

[CARIIS]

What I don't understand is the courts awarded him sole custody, don't they do background checks, or does that even matter? TJ had a criminal record didn't he? I do understand that people can change but I'm still trying to figure out why he got custody and the wife didn't.


It might be the better of the two - a lot probably had to do withe employment history IMO what do know about mom history???ANyone

RE:had zero reason to assess him as appropriate.

There role is the opposite - to able to "prove" inappropriate" . There "no finding" is basically saying what they observed did not meet criteria to remove a child

 

[OkieGranny]

http://www.wistv.com/story/26536925/final-autopsy-results-on-slain-children-expected-in-four-weeks

The final autopsy results in the case of the five Lexington County children who were allegedly slain by their father are expected in about four weeks...

In the meantime, Allard says the sheriff's department will not be releasing any preliminary investigative or medical reports on the case and Sheriff Lewis McCarty and Wells will determine if they'll even release the final reports.

 

[OkieGranny]

http://www.wyff4.com/news/vigil-for-slain-sc-children-draws-hundreds/28076776

Through song and prayer, a church packed with hundreds mourned five Lexington County children who lost their lives. A vigil was held at Red Bank Baptist Church in Lexington for the three boys and two girls who deputies said were killed by their father.

“Those precious angels looking into the eyes of someone they love and to see what is about to take place,” said Joby Deater...

“It makes you wonder, why didn't the father reach out?” asked Cheryl Austin.

 

[Ghostwheel]

What I don't understand is the courts awarded him sole custody, don't they do background checks, or does that even matter? TJ had a criminal record didn't he? I do understand that people can change but I'm still trying to figure out why he got custody and the wife didn't.


It might be the better of the two - a lot probably had to do withe employment history IMO what do know about mom history???ANyone

RE:had zero reason to assess him as appropriate.

There role is the opposite - to able to "prove" inappropriate" . There "no finding" is basically saying what they observed did not meet criteria to remove a child

BBM: Does anyone know if the mother even requested custody?

 

[Makaroni]

http://m.wyff4.com/news/timeline-of-jones-family-before-deaths-of-5-children/28064774

Pretty good timeline of Jones family

 

[lillygator]

oh my head this is beyond disgusting. poor babies