COLUMBIA, SC – The man accused of killing his five children and dumping their bodies in Alabama will make his first courtroom appearance Friday.
Tim Jones, Jr. had been in a Mississippi jail since his Saturday arrest on unrelated charges. He was returned to South Carolina Thursday where he now faces five counts of murder. Information from his warrants says Jones, 32, brutally murdered his children at their Lexington County, South Carolina home, loaded their bodies in his SUV, drove to Alabama, put the bodies and trash bags and left them in the woods. During Friday’s hearing, Jones will not have to immediately say whether he’s guilty or not, and it’s unlikely he ‘ll be allowed to post bond. Under South Carolina law, a circuit court judge must have a bond hearing for Jones in general sessions court because murder carries a maximum punishment of life in prison.
Detectives are still investigating, but they believe the children were killed about a week before their mother, who is divorced from Jones, reported them missing.
Jones’ parents live in Amory, Mississippi and plan to have a memorial for their grandchildren Friday afternoon.
