ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. News

Dad kills five children over broken plug socket

He had custody after split from wife - by Sarah Firth
  • 12 Aug 2019

Timothy Jones Jnr, 37, was sentenced to death

Dad kills five children over broken plug socket

A man killed his five young children after he was granted custody of them when his marriage broke down.

Timothy Jones Jr, 37, had been given custody of Merah Jones, eight, and her siblings Elias, seven, Nahtahn, six, Gabriel, two, and one-year-old Abigail when he split from his wife Amber.

Amber had had an affair with a 19-year-old neighbor after her husband’s devout religious beliefs saw him expect her to be always subservient.

After the split, Jones, who had a well-paying IT job, was given custody of the children.

He began to beat his children, following the Biblical instruction, 'thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell,' reported AP News.

In August 2014, Jones forced Nahtahn, who had expressed his wish to live with his mum again, to exercise for hours until he collapsed as punishment for breaking a power socket and denying it.

Merah Jones

Merah Jones

The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department
Elias Jones

Elias Jones

The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department

Jones found his son dead in his bed at their home in South Carolina afterwards, and then strangled or choked his other children to death.

Jones put the five bodies into his car and drove around for nine days during which he searched for how to 'disintegrate' bodies. He eventually dumped them in bin bags in Alabama.

He was later arrested after being stopped at a roadside drink driving checkpoint in Mississippi when a police officer noticed a terrible smell coming from his car, reported The Sun.

Inside, officers found blood and maggots as well as notes that read 'melt bodies!' and 'saw bones to dust'.

Jones later told police he had sent his children to 'heaven together.'

Nahtahn Jones

Nahtahn Jones

The Lexington County Sheriff's Department
Gabriel Jones

Gabriel Jones

The Lexington County Sheriff's Office
Abigail Jones

Abigail Jones

The Lexington County's Sheriff Department

During his trial this year in Lexington County, prosecutors described Jones as a 'selfish, evil' man who killed his children as an act of revenge.

Meanwhile, his defence claimed Jones, who had custody of the children, had undiagnosed schizophrenia and was using cannabis and alcohol. The court also heard Jones had had an incredibly difficult upbringing.

During his trial, Associated Press reported Amber broke down as she explained how her marriage ended and her love for her children who she’d hoped to win back.

In June this year Jones was found guilty of five counts of murder.

His ex-wife asked for him to be shown mercy, despite her heartbreak. 'He did not show my children any mercy by any means,' she said. But my kids loved him and if I'm speaking on behalf of my kids and not myself, that's what I have to say.'

A jury sentenced Jones to death after taking two hours to decide whether he should face the death penalty or life imprisonment. His sentence is due to be carried out in November.

  • News
  • Real Life
Sarah Firth
Sarah Firth
Sarah Firth is deputy features editor for that’s life! and has written for the Nottingham Post, Chat magazine, that's life! in the UK, Kidspot and The Sun online.

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life!

Recommended to you

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis
Watch 0:37

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis

{headline}

{headline}

Man who killed his daughters, wife and mother-in-law to die in jail

Man who killed his daughters, wife and mother-in-law to die in jail

Dad who killed his five kids sentenced to death

Dad who killed his five kids sentenced to death

Holly the heart hero

Holly the heart hero

30-year heartbreak  - who killed Kerry Turner?

30-year heartbreak - who killed Kerry Turner?

{headline}

{headline}

My runny nose was cancer

My runny nose was cancer

Horror at the servo - I was abducted and raped

Horror at the servo - I was abducted and raped

My husband forgot I was his wife so we wed twice

My husband forgot I was his wife so we wed twice

{headline}

{headline}

Empty nesters... so we adopted SEVEN kids!

Empty nesters... so we adopted SEVEN kids!

How chalk found me love!

How chalk found me love!

I SHAVED my head on my WEDDING day!

I SHAVED my head on my WEDDING day!

Born with no hands - but nothing will stop my boy

Born with no hands - but nothing will stop my boy

I LOVE the skin I'm in!

I LOVE the skin I'm in!

I became an ice addict at 40 - Now I'm helping others

I became an ice addict at 40 - Now I'm helping others

There was no room for my boy's brain

There was no room for my boy's brain

ThatsLife
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy
ThatsLife Magazine Subscribe
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • New Idea
  • Who
  • Girlfriend
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • New Idea food
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • Home Beautiful
  • All Recipes
  • 7plus
  • 7News
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • The West Australian
  • Perth Now
  • 7mate
  • 7Sport
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to That's Life!