Boyd Young

Murder2019 Murder TrialApr 29, 2019 – Jun 13, 2019

Boyd Young represented Timothy Ray Jones, Jr. at trial, developing the insanity defense through expert and fact-witness examinations, challenging investigative and forensic evidence, and arguing that mental illness, traumatic brain injury, and psychosis prevented Jones from appreciating legal or moral wrongfulness. In the penalty phase, he presented mental-health and mercy evidence and argued for life without parole while preserving disputes over graphic exhibits and mitigation instructions.

Jury Selection Day 1

Apr 29, 2019

ProceduralPre-Arraignment Motions and Trial Administration61lines spoken

Summary

The court ordered arraignment outside the jury panel, preserved the defense objection, and deferred further voir dire and alleged gag-order issues.

jury selectionVenire Qualification and Panel Assignment5lines spoken

Summary

The court qualified the venire, identified prospective jurors who had encountered publicity, and assigned panels for individual voir dire.

ProceduralVoir Dire and Trial-Procedure Motions21lines spoken

Summary

The court deferred the photograph issue and adopted the State's proposed juror-type form for capital-punishment voir dire.

ProceduralGag-Order Violation, Sanctions, and Continuance Hearing21lines spoken

Summary

The court denied requested sanctions and a continuance over Amber Jones's online comments, while allowing juror inquiry about publicity and potential use of inconsistent statements if she testified.

ProceduralResumed Voir Dire and Trial-Procedure Motions54lines spoken

Summary

The court set voir dire and alternate-juror procedures, reaffirmed death-qualification rulings, and considered disputes over NGRI instructions and late discovery.

Jury Selection Day 2

Apr 30, 2019

jury selectionJury selection364lines spoken

Summary

The court limited voir dire materials, excused Robert Cody for a school conflict, and denied a defense challenge for cause to Kenneth Hall.

Jury Selection Day 3

May 1, 2019

jury selectionJury selection169lines spoken

Summary

Prospective jurors were examined on capital sentencing views, publicity, and impartiality; the court qualified some, excused others, and set limits on voir dire questioning.

Jury Selection Day 4

May 2, 2019

jury selectionJury selection228lines spoken

Summary

Voir dire examined insanity, death-penalty views, and juror impartiality; the court excused several jurors, qualified others, and set limits on deliberation-related questioning.

Jury Selection Day 5

May 3, 2019

jury selectionJury selection137lines spoken

Summary

The court qualified and excused prospective jurors after extensive capital-case questioning on impartiality, mitigation, and life-or-death sentencing.

Jury Selection Day 6

May 6, 2019

Voir DireIndividual Juror Voir Dire232lines spoken

Summary

Individual voir dire addressed publicity, capital-sentencing views, and juror qualifications; the court also limited questioning about non-unanimous sentencing outcomes.

Jury Selection Day 7

May 7, 2019

jury selectionJury selection268lines spoken

Summary

The court qualified and excused prospective jurors while setting limits on repeated capital-voir-dire questions.

Jury Selection Day 8

May 8, 2019

jury selectionJury selection338lines spoken

Summary

Individual capital voir dire led to several juror qualifications and excusals, plus an order to remove or alter a courthouse newspaper display.

Jury Selection Day 9

May 9, 2019

jury selectionJury selection177lines spoken

Summary

Individual voir dire produced several excusals and qualifications, including disputed rulings that Thomas Lee and Taylor Medlin remained qualified.

Jury Selection Day 10

May 13, 2019

ProceduralChange-of-Venue Motion and Ruling3lines spoken

Summary

The court denied the defense's renewed change-of-venue motion after voir dire and noted that the issue was preserved.

ProceduralJuror Qualification Challenges and Reconsideration21lines spoken

Summary

The court considered challenges to three prospective jurors and proposed brief additional voir dire after marking related articles as Court's Exhibit 76.

ProceduralPre-Jury-Selection Motion Calendar5lines spoken

jury selectionPeremptory Strikes and Jury Selection39lines spoken

Summary

The court denied a defense cause challenge, completed peremptory strikes, and assembled an 18-person panel for review.

ProceduralBatson Challenge to Peremptory Strikes4lines spoken

Summary

The court denied the defense Batson challenge after finding the State's stated reasons for its peremptory strikes were not pretextual.

ProceduralEvidence-Scope and Redaction Hearing17lines spoken

Summary

The parties defined the guilt-phase scope of drug-use evidence and agreed on limits and redactions for DSS and prior-record references.

ProceduralVerdict-Consequences Instruction Ruling3lines spoken

Summary

The court announced a proposed instruction barring discussion of verdict consequences, and the defense preserved its objection and request for a statutory charge.

ProceduralMedia Protocol for Recorded Testimony9lines spoken

ProceduralSearch-Warrant Challenges and Evidence Stipulations17lines spoken

Summary

The court clarified the scope of preserved search-warrant challenges, confirmed an agreement on house-search evidence, and marked the parties' motions as Court's Exhibit 75.

ProceduralWitness Scheduling Coordination3lines spoken

ProceduralDefendant-Statement Admissibility Clarification and Non-Use Agreement6lines spoken

Summary

The court confirmed prior statement-admissibility rulings were final, and the State agreed not to use a separate detention-center statement.

Day 11

May 14, 2019

DirectTravis Snyder — DirectTravis SnyderBoyd Young72lines spoken

Summary

A defense neuroradiologist described MRI findings he said were consistent with traumatic brain injury, while limiting what imaging alone could establish about psychiatric diagnosis or functional deficits.

CrossTravis Snyder — CrossTravis SnyderShawn Graham9lines spoken

Summary

Snyder said MRI findings showed traumatic brain injury but could not alone diagnose psychiatric illness or establish Mr. Jones' individual deficits or conduct.

RedirectTravis Snyder — RedirectTravis SnyderBoyd Young41lines spoken

Summary

Snyder described cumulative brain-injury effects and dementia risk, while the court limited further questions about dementia and schizophrenia.

ProceduralCompetency Finding and Instruction Conference10lines spoken

Summary

The court found Mr. Jones competent, addressed initial jury instructions, and marked the competency report for identification.

ProceduralTrial Session Resumes and Pre-Opening Matters3lines spoken

Summary

The afternoon session began with courtroom ground rules, opening-statement logistics, and a juror-note discussion.

Day 12

May 15, 2019

DirectChristina Ehlke — DirectChristina EhlkeSuzanne Mayes9lines spoken

Summary

Childcare provider Christina Ehlke described the children's last pickup, later texts and a phone call with Tim Jones, and her observations that his communications appeared normal.

CrossChristina Ehlke — CrossChristina EhlkeBoyd Young109lines spoken

Summary

Ehlke discussed the residence, the children's care, DSS questions, and her qualified observations of Tim's behavior; three defense exhibits were admitted.

RecrossChristina Ehlke — RecrossChristina EhlkeBoyd Young11lines spoken

Summary

Ehlke qualified her recollection of Merah's reported statement; the court preserved defense objections to phone records and prior suppression-related matters.

DirectJamie McClellan — DirectJamie McClellanShawn Graham4lines spoken

Summary

Jamie McClellan described Timothy Jones's changing responses about his children after the checkpoint and the custody of vehicle evidence and blood samples.

CrossJamie McClellan — CrossJamie McClellanBoyd Young45lines spoken

Summary

McClellan said his initial conversation with Mr. Jones was unrecorded and undocumented, then described suicide-watch procedures and the warrant-based collection of biological samples.

Day 13

May 16, 2019

ProceduralDefense Exhibit Admissibility Hearing12lines spoken

Summary

The defense explained its plan to use prior-conviction evidence in support of its insanity defense, and a photographic jump drive was marked for identification only.

DirectEric Johnson — DirectEric JohnsonShawn Graham4lines spoken

Summary

Mississippi investigator Eric Johnson described vehicle evidence, Miranda advisements and interviews of Timothy Ray Jones, Jr., and the Alabama search that located the children.

CrossEric Johnson — CrossEric JohnsonBoyd Young124lines spoken

Summary

Defense counsel examined Eric Johnson's notes, unrecorded interview account, and observations of Timothy Jones, Jr.'s reported behavior.

ProceduralStatements Admissibility Ruling and Proffer19lines spoken

Summary

The court barred questions about prior invocations of rights but permitted narrower questioning about a refusal to provide samples and a search warrant.

CrossEric Johnson — Cross (Resumed)Eric JohnsonBoyd Young2lines spoken

Summary

Eric Johnson said he lacked knowledge of an earlier request for samples; the court then held a bench conference after an objection.

RedirectEric Johnson — RedirectEric JohnsonShawn Graham3lines spoken

Summary

Eric Johnson said people may consent to or refuse requests for blood, hair, or DNA samples after the court overruled an objection.

Day 14

May 17, 2019

DirectMarty Longshore — DirectMarty LongshoreSuzanne Mayes7lines spoken

Summary

Longshore authenticated a duplicate Dollar General purchase, and State's Exhibit 143 was admitted; defense counsel then preserved an objection concerning anticipated Mackey testimony.

DirectDavid Mackey — In-Camera Direct ExaminationDavid MackeyBoyd Young9lines spoken

Summary

The court limited Mackey questioning, admitted corrected aerial-photograph exhibits, and the State called Mackey before the jury.

DirectDavid Mackey — DirectDavid MackeyRick Hubbard7lines spoken

Summary

FBI Agent David Mackey testified that Jones claimed Nahtahn died accidentally during discipline, admitted strangling the other four children, and reported hearing voices; Mackey also described the summary recording and Alabama recovery.

CrossDavid Mackey — CrossDavid MackeyBoyd Young91lines spoken

Summary

Mackey acknowledged errors and described an unrecorded portion of Jones's interview as defense exhibits tied to the interview were admitted.

ProceduralEvidentiary Hearing on Exhibits 161–16513lines spoken

Summary

The court overruled the defense objection and admitted written crime-scene summaries as State's Exhibits 161 through 165.

DirectBrittany Burke Pickle — Direct (Resumed)Brittany Burke PickleShawn Graham4lines spoken

Summary

Pickle identified recovery summaries and authenticated vehicle evidence as the court admitted State's Exhibits 167 and 168.

Day 15

May 20, 2019

DirectStephanie Stanley — DirectStephanie StanleyShawn Graham4lines spoken

Summary

SLED DNA analyst Stephanie Stanley reported results from a bucket and several Cadillac Escalade items matching DNA profiles of Merah, Elias, Nahtahn, Gabriel, and Abigail Jones.

ProceduralOut-of-Jury Record on Defense Exhibit Photographs48lines spoken

Summary

The court admitted the State's knee photograph and deferred the defense's five autopsy photographs, preserving the defense objection.

DirectJanice Ross — DirectJanice RossRick Hubbard9lines spoken

Summary

Forensic pathologist Janice Ross gave autopsy findings for the five Jones children, classifying each death as a homicide and describing decomposition-related limitations.

CrossJanice Ross — CrossJanice RossBoyd Young69lines spoken

Summary

Defense questioning of Janice Ross explored decomposition limits, changes to cause-of-death certificates, and autopsy findings concerning the children.

RecrossJanice Ross — RecrossJanice RossBoyd Young6lines spoken

Summary

Janice Ross agreed that autopsy findings were consistent with the account attributed to Tim Jones, while qualifying her recollection of when she heard it.

ProceduralOut-of-Jury Exhibit Record6lines spoken

CrossShelby Derrick — CrossShelby DerrickBoyd Young17lines spoken

Summary

Shelby Derrick authenticated defense photographs from the South Lake Drive search, including images of medication items and Chantix-labeled blister packs.

ProceduralOut-of-Jury Hearing on Defense-Collected Books16lines spoken

Summary

The court found that Shelby Derrick could not authenticate defense-collected books and declined to restrict the State's arguments about potential PCR.

CrossShelby Derrick — Cross (Continued)Shelby DerrickBoyd Young15lines spoken

Summary

Shelby Derrick said she photographed electrical fixtures at the South Lake residence but did not personally test the outlets.

ProceduralOut-of-Jury Hearing on Voicemail Evidence12lines spoken

Summary

The court overruled a hearsay objection and allowed the State to play voicemail recordings from the defendant's phone extraction.

DirectAmber Kyzer — Direct (Continued)Amber KyzerSuzanne Mayes3lines spoken

Summary

Amber Kyzer authenticated communication evidence, described her final contacts with Nahtahn and Timothy Jones, and recounted the missing-person report and unsuccessful planned visitation.

ProceduralOut-of-Jury Hearing on Witness's Emotional Testimony20lines spoken

Summary

The court denied a defense mistrial motion after Amber Kyzer's emotional reaction on the stand, preserved audio of the incident, and cautioned jurors not to consider witness emotion.

CrossAmber Kyzer — CrossAmber KyzerBoyd Young55lines spoken

Summary

Amber Kyzer discussed the family's religious practices, parenting materials, and Tim's behavior during their marriage; a defense parenting book was admitted.

DirectHeather Clary — DirectHeather ClaryShawn Graham14lines spoken

Summary

Crime-scene investigator Heather Clary authenticated residence photographs, described bedroom conditions, and identified a Woody doll admitted as State's Exhibit 194.

Day 16

May 21, 2019

CrossCynthia Bobe — CrossCynthia BobeBoyd Young15lines spoken

Summary

Bobe identified a chain-of-custody form for numerous electronic devices, and the court admitted it as Defense Exhibit 125.

CrossTravis Pressley — CrossTravis PressleyBoyd Young39lines spoken

Summary

Defense questioned Pressley about the unusual maximum-security intake, Mr. Jones's emotional condition, and which officers were present before further voluntariness litigation.

ProceduralStatement Admissibility Argument and Ruling7lines spoken

Summary

The court admitted correctional-intake statements and deferred review of a proposed redacted phone call.

CrossTravis Pressley — CrossTravis PressleyBoyd Young136lines spoken

Summary

Defense challenged the completeness and timing of Pressley's intake account, while Pressley qualified an apparent conflict with medical-record times.

ProceduralUnredacted Statement Review6lines spoken

Summary

The court required a limited redaction to a recorded statement before any possible playback to the jury.

DirectMike Phipps — DirectMike PhippsShawn Graham5lines spoken

Summary

Digital-forensics examiner Mike Phipps authenticated and explained a phone-activity report tracing calls, texts, searches, web history, and device-power events.

CrossMike Phipps — CrossMike PhippsBoyd Young103lines spoken

Summary

On cross-examination, Mike Phipps confirmed phone entries concerning schizophrenia, suspected prostitution, school supplies, and meals, while describing the report's selection of 1,240 artifacts from roughly 24,750 data points and limits on interpretation.

RedirectMike Phipps — RedirectMike PhippsShawn Graham3lines spoken

Summary

Phipps identified schizophrenia-related searches and a subsequent text message; State's Exhibit 199 was marked for identification only.

Day 17

May 22, 2019

ProceduralExhibit and Evidentiary Matters16lines spoken

RecrossMike Phipps — RecrossMike PhippsBoyd Young14lines spoken

Summary

Phipps identified a May 17, 2014 phone photograph of two children; the court admitted Defendant's Exhibit 127.

ProceduralState Rests and Defense Motions16lines spoken

Summary

The State rested, the court denied renewed defense motions, and the defense played Travis Snyder's recorded testimony; afterward, the court removed in-camera material from juror transcript copies.

ProceduralRuling on Lay-Opinion Testimony6lines spoken

Summary

The court limited lay-opinion testimony, struck an officer's answer, and instructed the jury to disregard it while the Solicitor rephrased.

Day 18

May 23, 2019

DirectEric Brenton Sadreameli — DirectEric Brenton SadreameliBoyd Young57lines spoken

Summary

Sadreameli described the defense inventory of materials from the South Lake Drive house and identified selected religious and children's items.

DirectApril Hames — DirectApril HamesBoyd Young116lines spoken

Summary

April Hames described counseling records concerning Tim's marital distress, parenting, reported mental-health symptoms, and diagnostic codes; Defense Exhibit 134 was admitted.

RedirectApril Hames — RedirectApril HamesBoyd Young18lines spoken

Summary

Hames gave qualified testimony on brain-injury limits, reported reconciliation discussions, and the possible masking of schizophrenia symptoms.

ProceduralCynthia Turner Video Publication Hearing16lines spoken

Summary

The court deferred ruling on the defense request to publish Cynthia Turner's video after the State challenged its relevance and ability to cross-examine her.

Day 19

May 24, 2019

ProceduralJury-Security Matters and Turner Video Ruling24lines spoken

Summary

The court addressed juror security, excluded the Turner video from jury viewing while permitting expert reference to it, and noted the defense's preserved objection.

DirectErin Bigler — DirectErin BiglerBoyd Young60lines spoken

Summary

Neuropsychologist Erin Bigler testified that MRI scans showed traumatic brain injury and brain abnormalities he associated with effects on behavior and emotional regulation.

CrossErin Bigler — CrossErin BiglerRick Hubbard4lines spoken

Summary

Erin Bigler said brain imaging could show injury and increased risk factors but could not diagnose schizophrenia, explain the killings, or answer whether Mr. Jones knew right from wrong.

RedirectErin Bigler — RedirectErin BiglerBoyd Young18lines spoken

Summary

Bigler said a revised hypothetical involving family history, scan findings, and auditory hallucinations was consistent with schizophrenia, while qualifying that diagnosis is usually collaborative.

RecrossErin Bigler — RecrossErin BiglerRick HubbardMentioned1line spoken

Summary

Bigler agreed that clinical assessment is needed alongside imaging when evaluating self-reported symptoms; the court then admitted Defendant's Exhibit 137 and ordered a proffer.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 20

May 28, 2019

ProceduralCounselor Testimony Admissibility Hearing7lines spoken

Summary

The court deferred a dispute over counselor testimony and the confidentiality of records concerning Elias and Merah.

ProceduralCounselor Testimony Admissibility Hearing Continues9lines spoken

Summary

The court heard competing arguments over counselor testimony and deferred a final admissibility decision until it heard some of Fender's testimony.

DirectKimberly Fender — Proffer DirectKimberly FenderBoyd Young52lines spoken

Summary

Therapist Kimberly Fender gave a defense proffer about counseling records, reported family concerns, discipline, and her lack of a DSS report.

ProceduralCounselor Testimony Admissibility Ruling14lines spoken

Summary

The court excluded proposed counselor testimony as too remote and irrelevant, while the defense preserved constitutional objections.

DirectKimberly Fender — DirectKimberly FenderBoyd Young6lines spoken

Summary

Kimberly Fender identified her counseling work with Elias and Merah in 2012 and 2013.

Day 21

May 29, 2019

DirectChrystal Ballentine — DirectChrystal BallentineBoyd Young84lines spoken

Summary

Chrystal Ballentine described Jones as increasingly controlling, disputed parts of her prior statement about his behavior, and Defense Exhibit 267 was admitted subject to objection.

RedirectChrystal Ballentine — RedirectChrystal BallentineBoyd Young5lines spoken

Summary

Chrystal Ballentine said Jones mentioned his mother only briefly and appeared depressed after his divorce.

DirectSandra Black — DirectSandra BlackBoyd Young22lines spoken

Summary

Detective Sandra Black authenticated Chrystal Ballentine's written statement and confirmed its reported references to Mr. Jones talking to himself.

CrossSandra Black — CrossSandra BlackSuzanne Mayes4lines spoken

Summary

Sandra Black confirmed the contents and limits of Chrystal's statement about Timothy Jones, including reported substance use and self-talk but no reported hallucinations or loss of reality.

DirectJoy Lorick — DirectJoy LorickBoyd Young136lines spoken

Summary

Former babysitter Joy Lorick described household conditions, family trips, discipline, and concerns about the children's food; defense travel records and photographs were admitted.

RedirectJoy Lorick — RedirectJoy LorickBoyd Young18lines spoken

Summary

Joy Lorick clarified her DSS report and said the discipline she observed was wrong, though Tim stopped some conduct after she objected.

Day 22

May 30, 2019

ProceduralHearing on Limiting Instruction for Dr. Frierson34lines spoken

Summary

The judge ordered a limiting instruction before Dr. Frierson testified and deferred questions about any later penalty-phase use.

DirectRichard Frierson — DirectRichard FriersonBoyd Young300lines spoken

Summary

Court-appointed psychiatrist Richard Frierson testified that Mr. Jones could distinguish right from wrong at the time of the alleged offenses while diagnosing substance-induced psychosis associated with spice.

CrossRichard Frierson — CrossRichard FriersonShawn Graham7lines spoken

Summary

Forensic psychiatrist Richard Frierson testified that Mr. Jones's symptoms were substance-induced and that Jones could distinguish right from wrong and conform his conduct to the law.

RedirectRichard Frierson — RedirectRichard FriersonBoyd Young40lines spoken

Summary

Frierson addressed reported symptoms on redirect; the court reaffirmed exclusion of Bethany Yeiser's testimony and received proposed social-history material for identification.

Day 23

May 31, 2019

DirectBeverly Wood — DirectBeverly WoodBoyd Young62lines spoken

Summary

Dr. Beverly Wood described treating Tim Jones for reported psychiatric symptoms, her schizo-affective-disorder diagnosis, medication, and her view that he had an underlying mental illness.

CrossBeverly Wood — CrossBeverly WoodSuzanne Mayes6lines spoken

Summary

Wood limited her opinion to treatment, described gaps in the information she received, and the court cautioned the prosecution about characterizing Mr. Jones's cocaine use.

RedirectBeverly Wood — RedirectBeverly WoodBoyd Young4lines spoken

Summary

Wood said disorganized thinking was not required for the diagnoses discussed and confirmed she was not being paid to testify.

sidebarLimits on Dorney Testimony8lines spoken

Summary

The bench conference addressed the permissible scope of Dr. Dorney's testimony concerning social-history records.

DirectJulie Dorney — DirectJulie DorneyBoyd Young136lines spoken

Summary

Forensic psychiatrist Julie Dorney testified that Jones had schizo-affective disorder and gave criminal-responsibility opinions supporting the defense's insanity theory; the court required clarification about the limits of related testing evidence.

CrossJulie Dorney — CrossJulie DorneyShawn Graham14lines spoken

Summary

The prosecution challenged the foundation and alternative explanations for Dorney's psychiatric opinions; the court limited references to legal issues and considered a correction to cocaine evidence.

CrossJulie Dorney — Continued CrossJulie DorneyShawn Graham6lines spoken

Summary

Graham challenged Dorney's diagnosis and criminal-responsibility opinions through malingering tests, substance use, reported beliefs, and post-event conduct; Dorney maintained her core analysis while recognizing limits and distinctions within it.

RedirectJulie Dorney — RedirectJulie DorneyBoyd Young31lines spoken

Summary

Dorney reaffirmed her insanity opinion, distinguished moral from legal wrongfulness, and said she found no support for a motive involving Amber; the court limited social-history testimony.

ProceduralDefense Rests and Post-Testimony Motions14lines spoken

Summary

The defense rested, Mr. Jones declined to testify, and the court denied a mistrial request over cocaine-use references along with renewed defense motions.

Day 24

Jun 3, 2019

ProceduralCocaine-Testimony Objection and Curative-Instruction Ruling15lines spoken

Summary

The court ordered jurors to disregard testimony characterizing Mr. Jones as a heavy crack cocaine user while preserving the defense objection.

ClosingDefense Closing Argument by Boyd YoungBoyd Young7highlights10lines spoken

Summary

Young urged jurors to find Tim legally insane, arguing that mental illness, brain injury, and psychosis explained the deaths.

Highlights (7)

otherYoung framed the defense's final position as insanity, arguing that psychosis prevented Tim from appreciating the wrongfulness of the conduct.Open in transcript →

otherYoung connected the defense theory to asserted genetic risk, childhood environment, and traumatic brain injury.Open in transcript →

Quote“Killing children that you love is insane.”— Boyd YoungYoung used this refrain to state the defense's central insanity theory.Open in transcript →

confrontationYoung challenged the State's reading of Tim's statements and post-offense conduct, urging jurors to consider the defense's account of psychosis and irrational behavior.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Show all 7 highlights

Quote“Believe Tim when he says he strangled the kids, but don't believe him when he says he didn't intend to kill Nahtahn.”— Boyd YoungYoung characterized the State's approach as selectively accepting the defendant's statements.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

emotional momentYoung concluded by contrasting murder motivated by hatred with his argument that the killings resulted from insanity.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“Killing someone out of murder -- out of hatred is murder. Killing children out of love is insanity.”— Boyd YoungYoung's closing contrast summarized the defense's moral and legal framing.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Day 25

Jun 4, 2019

ProceduralMistrial motion over jury access to Blu-Ray evidence28lines spoken

Summary

The court denied a mistrial motion over jurors' access to a Blu-Ray evidence disk and required any further review to occur in the courtroom.

VerdictVerdict returned and jury polled3lines spoken

Summary

The jury returned guilty verdicts on all five indictments, and a jury poll followed.

ProceduralPost-verdict motions and phase-two planning8lines spoken

Summary

The court denied renewed post-verdict motions and set jury instructions and a Thursday-morning reconvening.

ProceduralPhase-two scheduling and motions hearing6lines spoken

Summary

The court set pending-motion arguments for 2:30 the following afternoon and planned to resume phase two Thursday morning.

Day 26

Jun 5, 2019

ProceduralHearing on Prior Mental-Health Evidence25lines spoken

Summary

The court deferred a ruling on whether prior mental-health evidence could be used in the penalty phase until it heard any testimony from Dr. Maddox.

ProceduralPenalty-Phase Photograph Admissibility Hearing5lines spoken

Summary

The court admitted the logging-road video and selected penalty-phase photographs over defense objections, including color versions of autopsy images.

ProceduralRuling on Proposed Penalty-Phase Opening Argument5lines spoken

Summary

The court barred a proposed defense opening argument about one juror choosing a life sentence and said it would use its jury-qualification instruction instead.

Day 27

Jun 6, 2019

OpeningPenalty Phase Preliminary Instructions and Opening StatementsSuzanne Mayes1highlight2lines spoken

Summary

The parties opened the penalty phase with opposing arguments for death and life without parole.

Highlights (1)

Quote“This decision about whether or not a person lives or dies is an individual moral judgment.”— Boyd YoungThe defense framed sentencing as each juror's personal determination.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

ProceduralPenalty-Phase Evidence Rulings4lines spoken

Summary

The court admitted disputed Alabama recovery photographs subject to objection and incorporated first-phase evidence into the penalty phase, deferring a limiting-instruction decision.

ProceduralAlternate Juror Emotional-Reaction Inquiry12lines spoken

Summary

The court denied a defense mistrial request after an alternate juror reacted emotionally to photographs, then confirmed the juror was ready to continue.

DirectShelby Derrick — DirectShelby DerrickShawn Graham7lines spoken

Summary

Shelby Derrick authenticated two phone videos that were admitted and published, after which the court admitted and played a redacted jail call.

DirectJanice Ross — DirectJanice RossRick Hubbard3lines spoken

Summary

Janice Ross authenticated autopsy photographs and death certificates, then restated the children’s listed causes of death and several injury findings.

CrossJoy Lorick — CrossJoy LorickBoyd Young16lines spoken

Summary

Lorick identified people in defense photographs, and the court deferred ruling on defense counsel's objection to jury-room access to autopsy photographs.

Day 28

Jun 7, 2019

DirectJohnathan Stone — DirectJohnathan StoneRick Hubbard8lines spoken

Summary

Johnathan Stone described Nahtahn's kindergarten years, school concerns, reported punishment, admitted school records, and the impact of Nahtahn's death on him.

DirectAmy Shearer — DirectAmy ShearerSuzanne Mayes6lines spoken

Summary

Amy Shearer described Nahtahn's kindergarten year, her report to DSS after observing bruising, his school accomplishments, and the lasting effect of his death.

DirectKerry Breen — DirectKerry BreenBoyd Young15lines spoken

Summary

Pastor Kerry Breen described his spiritual support for Tim, his observations of Tim's literal religious interpretation, and his view that Tim could positively influence other incarcerated men.

RedirectKerry Breen — RedirectKerry BreenBoyd Young3lines spoken

Summary

A scope objection ended Pastor Breen's redirect, and he was excused.

ProceduralEnd-of-Day Mitigation Evidence Rulings7lines spoken

Summary

The court preserved a defense objection and gave a qualified preliminary ruling on proposed limited mental-health treatment testimony.

Day 29

Jun 10, 2019

ProceduralMorning Jury Scheduling and Trial Resumption4lines spoken

DirectDonna Maddox — DirectDonna MaddoxBoyd Young36lines spoken

Summary

Dr. Donna Maddox testified that Mr. Jones met the criteria for schizophrenia and, in her opinion, was not malingering.

RedirectDonna Maddox — RedirectDonna MaddoxBoyd Young5lines spoken

Summary

Maddox confirmed that she had previously worked for the State in another Lexington death penalty case.

ProceduralKyzer Affidavit and Family Mercy Testimony Rulings5lines spoken

Summary

The court excluded Amber Kyzer's affidavit in favor of live testimony and limited the wording of proposed family mercy questions.

ProceduralSocial-History Evidence and Flores Testimony Hearing11lines spoken

Summary

The court excluded late-disclosed expert Dr. Flores from testifying but allowed a proffer, then addressed the planned social-history proffer.

ProceduralPlanned Mitigation Proffers16lines spoken

Summary

The court declined to play Bethany Yeiser's prior proffer for the jury, preserved the defense objection, and excused the jury for planned mitigation proffers.

Day 30

Jun 11, 2019

ProceduralAdriana Flores Proffer and Sealing Rulings18lines spoken

Summary

The court ordered Dr. Flores's proposed expert testimony proffered outside the jury's presence and sealed the proffer.

DirectAdriana Flores — Proffer DirectAdriana FloresBoyd Young50lines spoken

Summary

Forensic psychologist Adriana Flores said the testing data did not provide enough information to conclude that Mr. Jones was malingering; the court limited direct criticism of another expert's scoring.

ProceduralMotion for New Trial Based on After-Discovered Evidence12lines spoken

Summary

The court denied a new-trial motion, kept Dr. Flores' testimony from the jury, and set limits on social-history mitigation evidence.

DirectAmber Kyzer — DirectAmber KyzerBoyd Young7lines spoken

Summary

Amber Kyzer described her family's losses and said she could not bring herself to want Tim put to death, instead expressing hope for mercy.

RedirectAmber Kyzer — RedirectAmber KyzerBoyd Young2lines spoken

Summary

Amber Kyzer said she did not want Tim put to death and would respect the jury's decision.

Day 31

Jun 12, 2019

RedirectDeborah Grey — RedirectDeborah GreyCasey Secor27lines spoken

Summary

Grey linked reported family abuse patterns to an intergenerational history; the court later excluded a proposed video of Cynthia Turner offered as mitigation evidence.

DirectTyler Jones — DirectTyler JonesBoyd Young33lines spoken

Summary

Tyler Jones described close family ties, recalled warning Tim about Spice, and asked the jury not to impose death.

ProceduralDefense Rests and Defendant's Testimony Decision6lines spoken

Summary

The defense rested, and Jones personally declined to address the jury or testify. The court denied renewed defense motions and scheduled closings, instructions, and deliberations for the next morning.

Day 32

Jun 13, 2019

ProceduralClosing-Argument Objection and In-Chambers Motion8lines spoken

Summary

The court preserved a defense objection to the State's closing and set a procedure for objections during the defense closing argument.

Charge ConferencePenalty-Phase Charge Conference16lines spoken

Summary

The court left the final penalty-phase instructions unchanged while noting objections from both sides.

Jury InstructionPenalty-Phase Jury Instructions4lines spoken

Summary

Jurors received final penalty-phase instructions on aggravation, mitigation, mercy, verdict forms, and deliberations.

ProceduralPost-Verdict Motion for New Trial6lines spoken

Summary

The court denied the defense's post-verdict motion for a new trial, including each individually stated ground.

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Trial Record (143)

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