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Timothy Jones Jr.- Case Archive
personpersonCharlie CrumptonCharlie CrumptonSheriff of Smith County, Mississippi, with nearly twenty-four years in law enforcement at the time of trial.← All People
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Charlie Crumpton

Courtroom still of Charlie Crumpton.

Sheriff of Smith County, Mississippi, with nearly twenty-four years in law enforcement at the time of trial.

Appeared2019 Murder Trial
186 lines·9 proceedings·5 mentions

About

Sheriff Charlie Crumpton testified on Day 14 about the early September 2014 investigation, including the interview of Timothy Ray Jones, Jr., the search for the children, and the trip to rural Alabama where bodies were recovered after Jones led officers to the location.

Crumpton said Jones read the Miranda form aloud and could answer questions, but also showed sweating and sharp changes in emotion. He described those observations as similar to later encounters with people high on spice, while acknowledging that he had not previously dealt with much spice. He also testified that Timothy Jones, Sr. joined the interview because authorities were trying to locate the children.

Defense questioning addressed events before the September 7 statement and Crumpton's firsthand knowledge of them. Outside the jury's presence, the court allowed a further proffer, and Crumpton said he had not been present for the earlier jail conversation or watched the video referenced by the defense. On redirect, he said he did not see mental-health red flags that evening and described Jones's anger when Nahtahn's name was mentioned.

Key Points

Trial Record (9)

Trial 12019 Murder TrialApr 29, 2019 – Jun 13, 2019Called by prosecution

Sheriff Charlie Crumpton testified on Day 14 about the September 2014 interview, the search for the children, and the recovery site in rural Alabama. Cross-examination tested the limits of his firsthand knowledge of earlier events, and redirect addressed his observations of Jones during the September 7 interview.

Day 12

Day 13

Day 14

DirectCharlie Crumpton — DirectCharlie CrumptonRick Hubbard2highlights113lines spoken

Summary

Sheriff Charlie Crumpton described Jones's early interviews, the search for the children, and the Alabama recovery site.

Highlights (2)

Quote“My job as a law enforcement officer was to find those children. That was my main objective.”— Charlie CrumptonStates Crumpton's stated purpose during the initial search.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
CrossCharlie Crumpton — Cross (Proffer Testimony)Charlie CrumptonCasey Secor2highlights63lines spoken

Summary

The court addressed a contested voluntariness issue, then Crumpton described Jones's behavior, spice concerns, and the family's assistance during the investigation.

Highlights (2)

testimony highlightBefore the jury, Crumpton described Jones's sharply changing behavior during the September 7 interview and said it was his opinion Jones appeared to be under the influence of something.Open in transcript →
Quote“He was acting, like I say, from one extreme to the other. Very high up, very down low, very emotional, couldn't be still, a lot of anger. Yes, sir.”— Charlie CrumptonCrumpton gave a detailed description of Jones's behavior during the interview.Open in transcript →
RedirectCharlie Crumpton — RedirectCharlie CrumptonRick Hubbard2highlights8lines spoken

Summary

Crumpton said he saw no mental-health red flags in Jones but was concerned by Jones's repeated angry reaction to Nahtahn's name.

Highlights (2)

testimony highlightCrumpton testified that he saw no mental-health red flags in Jones on the evening of September 7, based on his experience handling people subject to mental-health commitments.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

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