COLUMBIA, SC – The South Carolina man accused of killing his five children is on suicide watch. Tim Jones, Jr. was scheduled to make his first appearance in court Friday morning, but gave up his right to the hearing.
Explaining that decision, Jones said he had been told by his attorneys not to do so because the hearing was not authorized by state or federal law, was not necessary and would hurt his ability to get a fair trial.
Jones is now scheduled to appear in court November 13.
Jones, 32, was arrested in Mississippi nearly a week ago at a DUI check point. Authorities said two days later he led them to Alabama where the bodies of his children were found in some woods in trash bags. Jones was taken to South Carolina Thursday. They believe he killed the five children inside his home in that state and have charged him with the murders.
His lawyer said Friday that Jones is on suicide watch and could be moved to another prison. The attorney said Jones, in the past, had been treated for mental illness.
