Reco Jones

Case record: Reco Jones

People

• Reco Jones — defendant
• Yolanda Bellamy (24-year-old) — ex-girlfriend and victim; she was not pregnant
• Ericka Bellamy (22-year-old) — sister of Yolanda Bellamy; found the bodies of two children
• Linda Bellamy (41-year-old) — grandmother of the dead children
• Janet Jones — mother of Reco Jones
• John McWilliams — defense attorney
• Kevin Simowski — Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor
• Kym Worthy — Wayne County Circuit Judge who sentenced Jones
• Mary Wade — neighbor and landlady of the victim
• Dr. Laning Davidson — assistant medical examiner; forensic pathology expert
• Cathy Carr — forensic pathology / bodily fluids examiner (DNA and blood expert)
• Steven Gawlik — Detroit police officer and state shoe print expert
• Officer Monica Childs — first investigator to interview Jones at Detroit Police Department downtown headquarters on the afternoon of Aug. 13, 1997
• Sgt. Reginald Harvel — interrogating officer
• Steven Yakimovich — police officer who later testified that Jones had a cut on his right hand
• Jeffrey Jones — defendant’s uncle and one of the police investigators
• Sgt. Arlie Lovier — investigating officer
• Rauol Williams — inmate expected to testify that Jones confessed to him
• Maliaka Martin — former girlfriend; romantic rival of Yolanda Bellamy
• Tamika Terrell — friend who testified about disposing of clothes and wiping a door handle
• Nathan Burns Jr. — victim (3 years old)
• Nathan III — victim (3 years old)
• Shafontah Bellamy — victim (3 years old)
• Delvontay Bellamy — victim (5 years old)
• Nathan Burns — victim referenced as father of Yolanda’s two sons (Nathan Burns, Sr.)
• Nathan Burns, Sr. — father of Yolanda’s two sons
• Maliaka Martin’s nickname: "Kia" — pronounced like “pie”
• Tamikah Terrell — referenced as Tamika Terrell; helped burn clothes
• Tamika Terrell — referenced as Tamika Terrell; helped dispose of clothes and bloody gym shoes and wiped a door handle

Timeline

• December 1996 — Jones and Bellamy began dating.
• January 1997 — Jones began serving a prison term for aggravated assault during a separate prior incident.
• Aug. 11, 1997 — Bellamy ended her relationship with Jones.
• Aug. 13, 1997 — Ericka Bellamy called to see when she could pick up her two children; after no answer, she drove to the house and saw the children lying in a pool of blood; she called the building’s landlady and 911; police discovered the bodies; Jones was arrested later that day and kept overnight at police headquarters; before investigators even told him how the victims died, Jones implicated himself by saying: "There's no way I could have stabbed those people."
• Aug. 13, 1997 (day after arrest) — Jones jumped out of a window at police headquarters and fell 60 feet; he survived the fall but suffered a fractured elbow and abdominal injuries.
• March 30, 1998 — Reco Jones was convicted of five counts of first-degree murder.
• April 21, 1998 — Kym Worthy sentenced Jones to five consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.
• April 22, 1998 — Jurors and relatives had final statements before the sentencing; sentencing was reported.

Background

Jones became involved with Yolanda Bellamy, and they began dating in December 1996. Their relationship became strained after Jones served a prison term in January 1997 for aggravated assault during a separate prior incident, and he was imprisoned for six months. Jones and Bellamy maintained contact through phone calls from prison. After Jones was released, he and Bellamy reunited, but their problems persisted. Jones began accusing Bellamy of cheating and began dating at least one other woman in addition to Bellamy.

Bellamy ended her relationship with Jones on August 11, 1997. Jones’s mother said Bellamy came to Jones’s house about 11 p.m. the previous night demanding to see Jones and retrieve some of her belongings; Jones’s mother refused to let Bellamy into the house because she knew Jones was in the basement and asked Bellamy to leave. When Bellamy refused, Jones’s mother called police. Bellamy left before police arrived. Jones’s mother later claimed she saw Jones asleep in the basement at 1:30 in the morning, and that she sat in the living room until 4 a.m. and then awoke at 8 a.m. to find that Jones was not home.

The offence

Jones was convicted of stabbing an ex-girlfriend, Yolanda Bellamy, and four children to death. Yolanda was killed on August 13, 1997, after telling Jones she was breaking off their relationship and getting an abortion. She was not pregnant. Prosecutors charged that Jones killed her because she threatened to abort his child.

Jones became enraged and lunged at Yolanda with a butcher knife. Yolanda was stabbed 11 times. Her sons, ages 3 and 5, her 5-year-old nephew and her 3-year-old niece were stabbed a total of at least 17 times.

The niece was tortured, with 30 shallow puncture wounds. All five victims had their throats slashed and suffered multiple stab and slash wounds.

During cross-examination, Jones went through a series of sarcastic admissions, denials, contradictions, and at one point pulled out a piece of paper, called it a script, and said: "I've been acting this out all long. This script I had is just putting me farther in the hole."

Investigation

Police discovered the bodies on August 13, 1997, after Ericka Bellamy called her sister’s house, received no answer, drove there, knocked, and, after seeing no one answer the door, peeked through the mailslot and saw her children lying in a pool of blood on the living room floor. She immediately called the building’s landlady and 911. Police arrived, knocked down the apartment door, and discovered the bodies.

According to reports, before investigators even told Jones how the victims died, Jones implicated himself by telling them: "There's no way I could have stabbed those people."

Police testimony included that the killing wounds were multiple stab and slash wounds, and that the presence of so much blood prevented an immediate determination of what caused the wounds. Doctors examined the bodies.

Forensic findings and expert testimony

• Dr. Laning Davidson examined the bodies of all five victims and concluded they died from multiple stab and slash wounds. He stated that three-year-old Shafontah Bellamy, in particular, suffered 21 stab wounds around her body and 21 additional wounds around her neck and head. He said her puncture wounds suggested she had been tortured. During cross-examination, he could not determine whether the attacker was right-handed or left-handed and conceded the murderer could have been male or female. He said the attacker would have had to overpowered both Yolanda Bellamy and the children and concluded the culprit had to have been an adult.
• Cathy Carr testified about DNA and blood evidence. She said one drop of blood consistent with the DNA of the five victims and Jones was found at the edge of the kitchen sink. She testified the drop was not noticed at first because the countertop was wet when police first arrived; as water dried, blood residue remained. She testified that the state said the mix of blood was caused when Jones washed his bloody hands in the sink.
• Cathy Carr testified that she matched up blood splatters in the living room of Yolanda Bellamy’s house with the victims. She concluded that Bellamy must have struggled because her blood DNA was found all over one side of the living room. She testified that Shafontah and Delvontay probably died where they were lying on their sleeping bag, and that Nathan III probably died near his mother’s arms. She testified that five-year-old Nathan Burns Jr. blood DNA was found on the lower steps of the stairway leading to the second floor and in other parts of the living room by the front door, and she said it could be concluded he was running, hurt, trying to get away before being killed.
• On cross-examination, Cathy Carr testified that no matching blood matter was was found on any knife taken from Jones’s home and that no DNA matter was discovered in any of the sink drain traps in the victims’ house.
• Steven Gawlik testified that two of the three bloody footprints found at the scene were made by Nike gym shoes. He testified that none of Jones’s other pairs of Nike shoes matched the footprints. Prior testimony said Jones had his other Nike shoes destroyed after the murders.
• The defense objected to the showing of crime scene photos. Judge Kym Worthy ruled in favor of the state after prosecutor Kevin Simowski argued the photos were necessary because they supported the testimony of the state medical examiner and rebutted the defense argument about who overpowered and killed Yolanda Bellamy.

Evidence relating to conduct after the killings

During the trial, witnesses testified that Jones helped destroy evidence and clean up. Jones’s friend and accomplice witnesses stated he had blood on his clothing and shoes and that his clothes were burned. There was also testimony about Jones’s need to wipe fingerprints and dispose of a knife.

Arrest

Jones was arrested later on August 13, 1997, and kept at police headquarters overnight. Jeffrey Jones testified he heard a call about a subject named Reco wanted for five fatal assaults who drove a burgundy BMW. He acknowledged the description matched his nephew and headed toward his sister Janet’s house. Janet had just spoken with Reco when Jeffrey arrived at her house, and she told him Reco was headed to the restaurant for lunch with his barber. Jeffrey and other officers then arrested Reco.

Jeffrey Jones testified that the police officer told Reco that his girlfriend had been killed. Reco asked: "Who?" and then said a name that sounded unusual. The officer testified he could not remember the name.

After his arrest, Jones attempted suicide by jumping out of a window at police headquarters and fell 60 feet to the pavement below. He survived and suffered a fractured elbow and abdominal injuries.

Trial

Charges and counts

Jones faced five counts of first-degree murder for the slayings of his ex-girlfriend Yolanda Bellamy, her two sons, and her niece and nephew.

Pretrial and courtroom dynamics

During a pretrial hearing, Jones’s mother needed police to escort her out of the courtroom because family and friends of the victims had threatened to avenge their deaths.

Defense theory

Defense attorney John McWilliams argued that the murders were committed by someone other than Reco Jones and that police arrested the wrong man. McWilliams suggested that one of Jones’s girlfriends, Maliaka Martin, may have killed Bellamy and the children in a jealous rage.

McWilliams told jurors: "By the end of the trial, we hope to prove to you that someone other than Reco Jones committed these homicides."

Prosecution theory

Kevin Simowski portrayed Jones as the actual murderer and described the relationship between Jones and Bellamy as not a happy one. Prosecutors alleged Jones killed Bellamy after she ended their relationship and said she would not carry out a pregnancy, despite being not pregnant. Prosecutors alleged Jones killed the children because they witnessed the crime and Jones felt he had to kill them.

Simowski described Jones’s testimony as manipulative and said Jones tried to cover up the crime by washing his hands. He also argued about blood evidence and the connection between injuries, DNA, and the footprints found at the scene.

Witness testimony and key disputed elements

• Jones told police two different accounts of his confrontation with Bellamy after the incident involving his mother. In one story, Jones said he arrived at Bellamy’s house between 12:30 and 1 a.m., claimed Bellamy threatened to kill his mother, brother, and sister, and that he began to choke her, then released her and left while she was still coughing. Jones said he went home and slept until about 5:45 a.m. before visiting another girlfriend, Maliaka Martin.
• In a second version, Jones allegedly told an officer that when Bellamy told him she would not bear his child he "snapped" and killed her.
• Maliaka Martin testified that Jones came to her house after the killings, had sneakers covered in blood, and confessed to killing Bellamy and the four children. She testified Jones said Bellamy told him she would tell her legal husband that Jones had beaten her and the children, and the threat triggered a violent response in Jones, leading him to stab Bellamy 11 times.
• Martin testified that the children came down upon hearing the commotion. She testified that Jones told her he had to kill the children to avoid leaving witnesses. Martin testified she let Jones shower and change his clothes and drove him to Tamikah Terrell’s house.
• Tamika Terrell testified Jones confessed Bellamy’s murder to her and wanted to use her washing machine to clean his bloody clothes. Terrell testified that because she did not have a washing machine she placed his clothes in a garbage can and helped him burn them.
• There was testimony about a dispute over what clothes Jones was wearing. Martin testified Jones showed up in denim shorts and a T-shirt. Terrell testified the clothes she burned included a hooded sweat jacket and sweat pants, and apparently the same gym shoes described by Martin. Prosecutor Simowski suggested Jones switched clothes and put them into the bag for disposal when he went to the trunk of his car.
• Terrell testified she wiped the handle of the front screen door to ensure there were no fingerprints. She testified it took about 30 seconds, and she did not tell police what she knew for four days, and only after Martin gave police her name.
• Ericka Bellamy described the relationship between her late sister and Jones as "rocky" and testified both threatened each other with physical violence. She also testified she was aware Bellamy slashed Jones’s tires about a month before the murders.
• During cross-examination, Ericka Bellamy admitted awareness of romantic rivalry between her sister and Maliaka Martin over Jones and testified she was not aware her sister had written Jones so many love letters while he was in prison.
• Janet Jones testified she could not account for Reco Jones between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. because she was asleep. She testified she woke at 8 a.m. to find her Chrysler LeBaron gone.
• Janet Jones testified it was not unusual for Reco to use her car. She testified Yolanda came to her house about 11 p.m. upset, and because of Yolanda’s demeanor she would not allow her to confront Reco, who was inside the house. She testified that Reco was told to stay in the basement. She testified she called 911 to complain that Yolanda would not leave, and that Yolanda left on her own.
• Janet Jones testified Maliaka Martin lived in her household for a few years up until June of 1996 and acted hostile toward children who interacted with Reco and acted jealous toward Reco’s own siblings.

DNA, blood, and photos

The state used crime scene photos and DNA and blood testimony to rebut the defense theory. The defense motion to prevent the state from showing the crime scene photos to the jury was denied by Judge Kym Worthy.

Police interview and confession testimony

Officer Monica Childs testified Jones waived his right to remain silent and engaged in a conversation that culminated with Jones allegedly saying: "You knew all day it was me. You knew I went to Yolanda's house. You knew I did it."

Childs testified Jones said he went to Yolanda’s when it was still dark and that he and Bellamy argued and that the victim made threats against his family and his mother. She testified Jones started to choke her long enough for her to stop resisting and then left the house. Childs testified Jones said he saw Nathan Jr. and Nathan III in the living room but did not know whether they were hurt at the time. She testified Jones headed for work and then wound up at Maliaka Martin’s house. Childs testified Jones began crying and said he wanted to tell her what happened to the kids and wanted to talk with his mother first. Childs testified she was unsuccessful in reaching Jones’s mother. Childs testified Jones asked her whether a person can do something very bad while in a frenzy but cannot stop himself, and when Childs replied "No," Jones allegedly made the "you know I did it" outburst.

Sgt. Reginald Harvel testified Jones described Bellamy telling him she was pregnant with his child but would refuse to carry out the pregnancy. He testified Jones confessed that he "snapped" and killed Bellamy. Harvel testified Jones told him he needed to be alone and, when Harvel returned, he saw Jones climbing out the window. Harvel testified Jones said jumping was "something he just had to do," and Jones jumped as Harvel reached for him, falling several stories onto concrete. Harvel testified Jones survived the attempt but suffered a broken elbow and various internal injuries.

Jones’s testimony

On March 26, 1998, Jones took the stand and tried to place blame on an ex-girlfriend, Maliaka Martin. Jones said he visited Martin in the middle of the night and fell asleep at her house. Jones testified he and Martin argued about Jones’s having female friends and continuing to talk to Bellamy. He said he visited Martin to settle the argument and claimed he had CDs belonging to Bellamy that he wanted to return. He testified Martin accompanied him to Bellamy’s house to return her belongings and settle hard feelings between Bellamy and Martin over love rivalry.

Jones testified that Martin attacked Bellamy at Bellamy’s house. Jones testified he tried to break up the fight between them but Bellamy was already stabbed. Jones claimed: "What did you do that for?" Martin, Jones claimed, then killed the four children, and he did not explain why he never stopped her. Jones testified he and Martin returned to her home, both showered to wash blood off their bodies, and then returned to the murder scene to help cover up the crime. Jones acknowledged going to friend Tamika Terrell’s house where she helped burn some of his bloody clothes.

During cross-examination, prosecutor Kevin Simowski accused Jones of lying, and Simowski asked him: "You like to tell stories and lie, don't you, Mr. Jones?" Jones replied: "Yes." Jones said he was following his "script." He said openly in court that he was following his script. Jones refused to answer when given the chance to confess in open court and attempted to use Fifth Amendment rights under the circumstances.

During cross-examination, Jones also said: "I've been acting this out all long.

Closings and jury instructions

In closing arguments, prosecutor Kevin Simowski portrayed Jones as a cold-blooded killer who ate lunch as the bodies were discovered and outlined the sequence of slayings. He said: "As her [Yolanda's] life's blood was escaping, Mr. Jones stabbed Shafontah," and described it as: "Look what I'm doing to your family," as he tortured the little girl. He said Bellamy yelled a long "No!" and tried to gather her sons and escape, but Jones killed Bellamy and young Nathan III while Bellamy was still in her arms. Simowski also said the defense’s depiction of Jones included manipulation, hiding behind girlfriends, and that after arrest Jones tried to hide the cut he suffered on his right hand.

Defense attorney Kendall Sailler argued that if there was reasonable doubt that Jones did not kill the five victims and that someone else committed the murders (such as Maliaka Martin), the jury must find Jones not guilty. Sailler argued that no one saw Jones commit the crimes and no one testified that they saw him murder the victims and described the prosecution’s case as largely circumstantial. Sailler said there was "a rush to judgment in this case" and said: "They had four dead kids, and they had to do something." Sailler also argued that the state’s strongest DNA evidence was based on a "water spot" and that the jury cannot convict Jones on evidence taken from a water spot.

Judge Kym Worthy instructed the jury to consider both first- and second-degree murder charges against Jones.

Verdict

On March 30, 1998, after two hours of deliberations that began on late Friday, Reco Jones was convicted of five counts of first-degree murder.

Sentencing

On April 21, 1998, Judge Kym Worthy sentenced Jones to five consecutive life terms in prison without the possibility of parole for slashing and torturing his ex-girlfriend and four children to death.

Jones spoke at sentencing: "I apologize for what happened. I didn't mean to kill them," and later: "I'm sorry for what happened." Prosecutors and family members also addressed the court. Ericka Bellamy said: "I hate you. I hate the day you were born and I hate the day my sister met you," and: "Words can't explain how I feel, not now, not ever. But knowing a monster will be locked away until death catches up with you helps me a little." Linda Bellamy said: "No sentence except for death is good enough for what he did. I only hope for the rest of his life Reco can be locked up like the animal that he is."

Other details

• Jurors and victims’ relatives voiced regret that Michigan lacks a death penalty. A juror, a 37-year-old trucker, said: "capital punishment would definitely fit. It is too bad we are not in Texas."
• Defense attorney John McWilliams said grounds for an appeal may exist but declined to comment further.
• Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Kevin Simowski called the case the most tragic of his 16-year tenure as a prosecutor and said Jones had little chance for an appeal.
• During trial testimony, a relative of the victim and a relative of the defendant engaged in a shouting match, and Judge Kym Worthy chastised members of both families and warned them they better behave or she would bar them from the rest of the courtroom proceedings.
• There was testimony about an earlier incident involving Reco Jones’s aggravated assault prison term, during which his mother later testified and which involved phone calls between Jones and Bellamy from prison.
• Prosecutors described the victims as having their throats slashed and suffering multiple stab wounds, and testimony and expert analysis connected blood and DNA findings with Jones and the victims.
• Judge Kym Worthy required Jones to answer only questions asked by his attorney and excused the jury multiple times while Jones argued with his attorney, John McWilliams.