Gabriel Jones

Trial 12019 Murder TrialApr 29, 2019 – Jun 13, 2019

Gabriel Jones was identified as a two-year-old child named in a murder indictment and discussed in childcare, recovery, forensic, and medical testimony.

Jury Selection Day 1

Apr 29, 2019

ProceduralArraignment of Timothy Ray Jones, Jr.Mentioned

Summary

Jones pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to five murder indictments before the court moved to jury selection.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

jury selectionVenire Qualification and Panel AssignmentMentioned

Summary

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

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 12

May 15, 2019

DirectChristina Ehlke — DirectChristina EhlkeSuzanne MayesMentioned

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.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

RedirectChristina Ehlke — RedirectChristina EhlkeSuzanne MayesMentioned

Summary

Ehlke authenticated communications about childcare payments, clarified the DSS visit, and said Tim's social awkwardness did not cause her to question his soundness of mind.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 13

May 16, 2019

DirectStacy Jones — DirectStacy JonesShawn GrahamMentioned

Summary

Forensic analyst Stacy Jones described processing the Cadillac Escalade, the items collected from it, and suspected biological evidence.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 14

May 17, 2019

DirectDavid Mackey — DirectDavid MackeyRick HubbardMentioned

Summary

FBI Agent David Mackey recounted Jones's interview, the later summary recording, and the effort that led officers to the Alabama recovery site.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

CrossDavid Mackey — CrossDavid MackeyBoyd YoungMentioned

Summary

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

Mentioned in this proceeding.

DirectBrittany Burke Pickle — Direct (Resumed)Brittany Burke PickleShawn Graham1highlightMentioned

Summary

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

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Highlights (1)

testimony highlightPickle identified the written recovery summaries for Elias, Merah, Gabriel, Abigail, and Nahtahn Jones, describing the bags, clothing, and coverings listed for each.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Day 15

May 20, 2019

DirectStephanie Stanley — DirectStephanie StanleyShawn Graham1highlightMentioned

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.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Highlights (1)

testimony highlightStanley explained that the belt-buckle swab contained a mixture of at least two individuals and identified Gabriel Jones as the major contributor to the partial profile.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

DirectJanice Ross — DirectJanice RossRick Hubbard1highlightMentioned

Summary

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

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Highlights (1)

testimony highlightDr. Ross described impressions on Gabriel Jones's neck as potentially consistent with a ligature, and concluded probable strangulation and homicide.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

CrossJanice Ross — CrossJanice RossBoyd YoungMentioned

Summary

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

Mentioned in this proceeding.

RedirectJanice Ross — RedirectJanice RossRick HubbardMentioned

Summary

Janice Ross explained revisions to death-certificate conclusions and rejected accident as Nahtahn's manner of death.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

RecrossJanice Ross — RecrossJanice RossBoyd YoungMentioned

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.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

DirectAmber Kyzer — DirectAmber KyzerSuzanne MayesMentioned

Summary

Amber Kyzer described the custody arrangement and recounted an August 28, 2014 call involving Nahtahn, then authenticated three voicemails she said she left afterward.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 17

May 22, 2019

CrossAdam Creech — Cross (Resumed)Adam CreechRick HubbardMentioned

Summary

Creech described Jones's reported statements after Nahtahn's death as the State introduced Wal-Mart stills and examined handwritten notes; the court limited a hypothetical and cautioned both sides about courtroom tone.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 19

May 24, 2019

DirectRoberta Thornsberry — DirectRoberta ThornsberryCasey SecorMentioned

Summary

Roberta Thornsberry described the defendant's childhood, family history, and later religious focus, then identified family photographs and an Atlanta video admitted for the jury.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 20

May 28, 2019

CrossSherry Henry — CrossSherry HenrySuzanne MayesMentioned

Summary

Sherry Henry confirmed that DSS safety plans barred corporal punishment and described limits in her knowledge and records concerning the August 2014 report.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 21

May 29, 2019

DirectJodie Durney — DirectJodie DurneyRobert MadsenMentioned

Summary

Former childcare provider Jodie Durney described her observations of Tim's parenting and acknowledged prior convictions.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

DirectRuby Durney — DirectRuby DurneyRobert MadsenMentioned

Summary

Ruby Durney described Tim as a prepared, protective father and said she saw no signs of drug use, voices, or fear of his children.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

DirectChrystal Ballentine — DirectChrystal BallentineBoyd YoungMentioned

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.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

DirectJoy Lorick — DirectJoy LorickBoyd YoungMentioned

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.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

CrossJoy Lorick — CrossJoy LorickSuzanne MayesMentioned

Summary

Joy Lorick described observed discipline and a DSS report while saying Mr. Jones appeared mentally clear and aware during the time she knew him.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

RecrossJoy Lorick — RecrossJoy LorickSuzanne MayesMentioned

Summary

Joy Lorick said Jones asserted authority over discipline and did not recall marks on Gabe after the reported whipping.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

DirectTimothy Jones, Sr. — DirectTimothy Jones, Sr.Casey SecorMentioned

Summary

Timothy Jones, Sr. described family history, efforts to locate the children, and post-arrest interactions with Timmy; the court limited a custody-related line of questioning and admitted family photographs.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 23

May 31, 2019

DirectJulie Dorney — DirectJulie DorneyBoyd YoungMentioned

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.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 24

Jun 3, 2019

ClosingState Closing Argument by Rick HubbardRick HubbardMentioned

Summary

The State argued that Jones was not insane, challenged the defense experts, and urged justice for the five children.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

ClosingDefense Closing Argument by Boyd YoungBoyd YoungMentioned

Summary

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

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 25

Jun 4, 2019

VerdictVerdict returned and jury polledMentioned

Summary

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

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 26

Jun 5, 2019

ProceduralPenalty-Phase Photograph Admissibility HearingMentioned

Summary

Defense sought to exclude post-mortem photographs from the penalty phase; the State outlined a limited proposed presentation, and the court requested discussion of the specific images without issuing a final ruling.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

ProceduralPenalty-Phase Photograph Admissibility HearingMentioned

Summary

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

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 27

Jun 6, 2019

OpeningPenalty Phase Preliminary Instructions and Opening StatementsSuzanne MayesMentioned

Summary

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

Mentioned in this proceeding.

DirectJanice Ross — DirectJanice RossRick HubbardMentioned

Summary

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

Mentioned in this proceeding.

DirectJoy Lorick — DirectJoy LorickSuzanne MayesMentioned

Summary

Joy Lorick described the children and the impact of learning of their deaths; the court admitted photographs without objection.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

CrossJoy Lorick — CrossJoy LorickBoyd YoungMentioned

Summary

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

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 28

Jun 7, 2019

DirectAmy Shearer — DirectAmy ShearerSuzanne MayesMentioned

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.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 30

Jun 11, 2019

CrossAmber Kyzer — CrossAmber KyzerSuzanne MayesMentioned

Summary

Amber Kyzer described conflicted feelings about sentencing, alleged violence during her marriage, and what she viewed as Tim's manipulation of contact with the children.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 31

Jun 12, 2019

DirectJulie Jones — DirectJulie JonesCasey SecorMentioned

Summary

Julie Jones described family relationships, grief after the children were reported missing, and her request that Tim receive mercy rather than death.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

CrossJulie Jones — CrossJulie JonesShawn GrahamMentioned

Summary

Julie Jones described close family contact before 2012, then loss of contact after Tim left with the children; she denied knowing of later DSS involvement or spice use.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

DirectJackie Rangel — DirectJackie RangelCasey SecorMentioned

Summary

Jackie Rangel described her relationship with the children, the memorial service, forgiving her brother, and opposing a death sentence.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 32

Jun 13, 2019

ClosingProsecution Closing ArgumentRick HubbardMentioned

Summary

The State urged a death sentence, emphasizing statutory aggravating circumstances, the children's lives, and the recovery evidence while arguing that mitigation did not warrant mercy.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

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