Florida Mom & 4 Kids Who Vanished 6 Weeks Ago All Found Dead; Husband Arrested

Police said they believe Michael Jones Jr. killed the victims and stored their bodies in his home and van for “several weeks.”

September 16, 2019
Casei Jones; Cameron Bowers, Preston Bowers, Mercalli Jones, Aiyana Jones [Marion County Sheriff's Office]

Photo by: Casei Jones; Cameron Bowers, Preston Bowers, Mercalli Jones, Aiyana Jones [Marion County Sheriff's Office]

Casei Jones; Cameron Bowers, Preston Bowers, Mercalli Jones, Aiyana Jones [Marion County Sheriff's Office]

By: Mike McPadden

The search for a missing Florida mom and her four children ended with the discovery of their bodies in Georgia and the issuance of a warrant accusing her husband of second-degree murder, according to police.

Casei Jones, 32, and her four children — Cameron Bowers, 10; Preston Bowers, 5; Mercalli Jones, 2; and Aiyana Jones, 1 — were reported missing on September 14. Concerned relatives allegedly told police they hadn't seen or heard from Casei or the kids since early August, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

It is not yet clear why the family took six weeks to report Casei and the kids missing.

At a press conference on September 16, the Marion County Sheriff's Office announced Michael Jones Jr., 38, is suspected of killing his wife, Casei Jones, 32.

Police said they are still working with prosecutors on possible charges in the slaying of the children — Cameron Bowers, 10; Preston Bowers, 5; Mercalli Jones, 2; and Aiyana Jones, 1. Authorities alleged Michael Jones is the biological father of two of the children.

"Unfortunately," Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods told reporters, "true evil poked its head up here in Marion County. That's about the only best way to describe it."

According to Jacksonville's WJAX-TV, Michael Jones crashed his van in Brantley County, Georgia, on Sunday and told responders, "You may want to put me in handcuffs because there is a dead body inside the vehicle." The body was allegedly that of Casei Jones.

After questioning, Michael Jones allegedly provided officers with the location of the children's remains in a wooded area in nearby Charlton County.

The family's home in Summerfield, Florida, is reportedly located about 150 miles away from where deputies discovered the remains. On Facebook, the sheriff's office wrote, "Detectives believe [Michael Jones] stored the bodies at his home and in his van for several weeks before transporting them to Brantley County, Georgia."

The New York Times reported autopsies on all five victims would commence on Wednesday.

Regarding Michael Jones, Sheriff Woods stated in the press conference, "As far as I'm concerned, as the sheriff of this county, underneath the jail ain't good enough. He has no right to walk the face of this earth."

Read more: USA Today, Marion County Sheriff's Office, WCJB, FOX News, CBS News, WJAX-TV, The New York Times, CNN

Next Up

Video: Young Mom Denise Amber Lee Kidnapped In Broad Daylight

Kidnapped in broad daylight at home with her children present, she bravely made a 911 call, however a tragic mistake would seal her fate.

The Twists And Turns Of The Infamous Susan Smith Case

On October 25, 1994, the 23-year-old South Carolina mother drowned her two young children.

Navajo Nation Girl Assaulted, Killed After Man Kidnapped Her While She Was Playing

Tom Begaye Jr. left the 11-year-old child to die in the desert after “repeatedly hitting her on the head and face with a tire iron.”

Florida Father Charged With Double Homicide Of Girlfriend, Toddler Found Dead In Alligator's Mouth

Thomas Mosley, 21, allegedly stabbed his girlfriend to death before throwing their 2-year-old son into a lake, where his body was later found inside an alligator’s mouth.

5 Things To Know About Andrea Yates, The Mom Who Drowned Her 5 Kids In The Bathtub

On June 20, 2001, mother of five Andrea Yates drowned her children, who ranged in age from six months to seven years, in the bathtub at her home in Houston, Texas.

FedEx Driver Charged With Murder After 7-Year-Old Went Missing From Outside Her Texas Home

On Nov. 30, 2022, Athena Strand went missing from her front yard. Two days later, her body was found and 31-year-old Tanner Lynn Horner was charged with her murder.

5 Key Facts About The Jessica Chambers Murder Case

Jessica Chambers suffered an agonizing death: Firefighters saw her walking toward them, wearing only her underwear & burned over 93 percent of her body.

Believe It Or Not, Scott Peterson, Convicted Wife-Killer, Has Groupies

Since Peterson first got arrested in 2003, admirers have continually loaded his prison bank account with donations.

Adoptive Mother Arrested In Connection With 10-Year-Old Arizona Boy Found Dead

Crystal Wilson was taken into custody over six years after she claimed Jesse Wilson suddenly disappeared from home.

5 Things You Need To Know About Susan Powell

In 2009, mother-of-two Susan Powell disappeared without a trace in West Valley City, Utah. Then in 2012, her husband Josh killed himself and their two sons after custody of the children was granted to Susan's parents.

Trending on CrimeFeed