Jamie McClellan Testimony & Transcripts - Timothy Jones Jr. Case Archive

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Jamie McClellan, a Smith County Sheriff's Investigator, testified on Day 12 about responding after a checkpoint alert and speaking with Timothy Ray Jones, Jr. about the children. McClellan said Jones initially said he had no children, then said he had three children who were in South Carolina.

McClellan also described handling evidence from the Escalade, including the custody and laboratory delivery of sealed Scooby Snax and an energy-drink can. The parties stipulated to the blood-draw chain of custody from McClellan through the MSI Lab.

On cross-examination, defense counsel established that McClellan's initial patrol-car conversation with Jones was not recorded by body camera, dash camera, or another recording device and was not documented in a report. McClellan described jail suicide-watch checks, said he had no direct conversation with Jones about suicide, and said Jones was talking at the hospital and did not appear intoxicated to him. He also described obtaining a warrant after what he characterized as an effective refusal to consent to blood, hair, and DNA collection.

Key Points

McClellan described responding to a checkpoint alert and questioning Jones about the children, including Jones's statements about whether he had children and where they were. ^[1]

He described handling the Scooby Snax, an energy-drink can, and blood samples, including delivery of sealed items to the Mississippi Crime Lab. ^[1]

On cross-examination, McClellan said the initial patrol-car conversation was neither recorded nor included in a report, and he described seeking a warrant after what he viewed as an effective refusal to consent to collection of blood, hair, and DNA. ^[1]

Trial Record (3)

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

Jamie McClellan testified on Day 12 about the checkpoint response, his conversation with Timothy Ray Jones, Jr. about the children, and his handling of evidence and blood samples. Defense cross-examination focused on the lack of a recording or report for McClellan's initial patrol-car conversation with Jones.

Day 12

May 15, 2019

DirectCharles Johnson — DirectCharles JohnsonSuzanne MayesMentioned

Summary

Charles Johnson described stopping Timothy Jones, Jr.'s Escalade at a Mississippi checkpoint, finding alleged drug-related items, and receiving an alert that five children expected in the vehicle were absent.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

DirectJamie McClellan — DirectJamie McClellanShawn Graham3highlights72lines 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.

Highlights (3)

testimony highlightMcClellan described asking Timothy Jones about his children after the checkpoint; he testified that Jones first said he had no children and, moments later, said he had three who were in South Carolina.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“I asked Mr. Jones where his children were and at that time he advised that he did not have any children.”— Jamie McClellanMcClellan gave a firsthand account of Jones's initial response to the inquiry about the children.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

evidence eventMcClellan described receiving the sealed Scooby Snax and energy-drink-can evidence, placing it in an evidence locker, and delivering it to the Mississippi Crime Lab; he identified the related chain-of-custody document.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

CrossJamie McClellan — CrossJamie McClellanBoyd Young2highlights44lines 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.

Highlights (2)

testimony highlightMcClellan testified that his initial patrol-car conversation with Mr. Jones was not recorded by body camera, dashcam, or report, leaving him to rely on memory.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“And the way we do that is we have a log and every 15 minutes someone checks on that subject, that way you got a timeline of somebody actually putting eyes on them and making sure that they're fine.”— Jamie McClellanMcClellan described the jail's suicide-watch monitoring procedure.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶