Action News Jax learned from an incident report released by investigators new details in the tragic killings of a mother and her four children.
Michael Jones is facing charges for four counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of his two children and two step-children.
He's also facing dozens of years behind bars for killing his wife Casei Jones.
Action News Jax investigator Courtney Cole spent hours digging through the 142-page incident report from the Marion County Sheriff's Office. Cole learned from the report that the murders all stemmed from an argument between Michael and Casei Jones.
According to the Marion County Sheriff's Office, Michael Jones told investigators Casei Jones accused him of cheating.
According to the report, Michael Jones said the argument then escalated into a yelling match, and he told her to leave.
The report says Michael Jones told investigators that Casei Jones then picked up a metal bat and pushed him with it ... he then grabbed it from her and told police he "hit her and kept hitting her."
Michael Jones told police he hit and killed his wife, Casei Jones, with the metal baseball bat, July 10.
Michael Jones said he then put her body in a plastic tote and stored it in the closet at their Summerfield, Florida home, where he told police all five of the murders took place.
TRENDING:
- 11 days, 17 shootings, 22 victims: Jacksonville's violent October
- First Alert Weather: Tropical disturbance over the Gulf to bring rain for parts of the weekend
- Neighbors: Man led away in handcuffs from Jacksonville home raided by FBI, NCIS
- PHOTOS: Inside former Jacksonville Jaguar Kevin Hardy's home for sale
- Child with measles was brought to Wolfson Children's Hospital emergency room
- LIST: Halloween events in the Jacksonville area
Michael Jones said he killed his stepchildren, Cameron Bowers, 10, by strangling him and Preston Bowers, 5, by strangling and drowning him.
Michael Jones told investigators that after he killed the two boys, he tried to work up the nerve to turn himself in or hoped someone would arrest him.
Instead, investigators say, Jones returned home and killed his two biological children — Mercalli Jones, 2, and Aiyanna Jones, 1.
According to the report, Michael Jones said he drowned them.
Timeline of murders: Suspect Michael Jones accused of killing wife and 4 children
In the report, he told police he killed the children because he had to keep up the façade that Casei was still alive.
He also allegedly used her phone to text family and friends and create Facebook posts, pretending to be her.
Michael Jones said he put all the bodies in the van and drove to Jacksonville to stay with his ex-wife Labor Day weekend, according to his interview with detectives.
According to the report, Michael Jones said that when he learned police were looking for him, he traveled north.
Michael Jones is accused of dumping the children's bodies in the woods in Georgia.
He allegedly drove around with his wife's body because he couldn't bring himself to get rid of her body.
Jones also told police he killed all four kids because they were related to Casei and he was mad at her.
Michael Jones was asked whether he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol -- He told police he was not, saying his head was clear and that he could have just walked away from the argument.
STAY UPDATED: Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories
Cox Media Group
