Marion County man accused of murdering wife, four young children on suicide watch

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MARION COUNTY, Fla. (FOX 35 ORLANDO) - A man charged with murdering his wife and suspected of killing her four children is on suicide watch at the Marion County Jail.

Michael Jones Jr. was stoic during his first court appearance Thursday morning where a judge ordered him to be held without bond and he was appointed a public defender.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office said Jones killed his wife and her four children at their Summerfield home six weeks ago and carried their bodies around in his van for three weeks.

Investigators said he then drove their remains to Georgia where he disposed of the children’s bodies. Police in Georgia eventually arrested him after he got into a car crash and found his wife’s body in the van with him.

Sergeant Paul Bloom with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said Jones is cooperating with investigators but he has not shown any remorse since being arrested.

“[One detective] told me in his 31 years this is one of the coldest, just evil people that he’s ever dealt with,” Sgt. Bloom said.

Sgt. Bloom said they believe they know the cause and manner of deaths of the family members but they are waiting on the autopsies to be complete before releasing the information. Officials are expecting to file more charges against Jones once the autopsies are complete.

Detectives are still searching for a motive for the killings.

Sgt. Bloom said, “That’s everybody’s question, is why and I can tell you and the sheriff has said, any reason he gives is not going to be good enough to satisfy us, the public but he’s not given us that. It’s frustrating for us, it’s frustrating for the public.”

Jones is scheduled to be arraigned in court on October 22 at 9 a.m. where he is expected to enter a plea.