Curtis Jones: Man Convicted Of Murder At The Age Of 12 Released After 16 Years


Curtis Jones, who was convicted of murder at the age of 12, is now a free man. In 1999, Jones and 13-year-old sister Catherine planned the murders of their father, his girlfriend, and an unnamed male relative. Although they did eventually shoot and kill their father’s girlfriend, they fled the scene without harming their father or the unnamed man.

As reported by Florida Today, Curtis and Catherine were eventually captured and detained. Although they confessed to the heinous crime, the adolescents claim they were simply defending themselves from ongoing abuse.

Indeed, records reveal the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and Department of Children and Families were called to the home on three separate occasions prior to the adolescents’ arrest.

According to reports, the unnamed male relative was convicted of sexually assaulting an underage female in 1993. At the time, he shared a home with the Jones family — and shared a bedroom with Curtis Jones.

Although the Department of Child Welfare was advised that Curtis and Catherine were sexually assaulted by the same man, the reports were determined to be unfounded.

In 1996, the department received reports that Curtis Jones was physically abused — as he was inexplicably covered in bruises and suffered a black eye.

In early 1999, the department received reports that Curtis and Catherine were still being sexually abused by the unnamed male relative.

Although the Department of Children and Families admittedly “found signs that they were being sexually abused by a family member,” the adolescents were never removed from the home.

During their police interview, Curtis Jones and his sister confessed to killing their father’s girlfriend and plotting to kill their father and the unnamed male relative.

Although they claimed the murders were a form of self-defense, Catherine and Curtis Jones were charged with first-degree murder. They later agreed to a plea bargain, in which they plead guilty to second-degree murder. They were each sentenced to 18 years in prison.

After serving 16 years of his 18 year sentence, Curtis Jones is now a free man. As reported by Wink News, he left the South Bay Correctional Facility at 7:00 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Catherin Jones, who remains incarcerated at the Hernando Correctional Institution, is scheduled for release on August 1.

Curtis Jones has not provided an official statement about his release. However, the Florida Department of Corrections confirmed he was a model prisoner — with no record of disciplinary action. During his incarceration, he became an ordained minister.

[Image via Gannett]

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