Warrant: Jones Feared 5 Kids would kill him

LEXINGTON — Arrest warrants for Timothy Jones Jr., the Lexington County man deputies say confessed to killing his five children, say he feared the children were going to "kill him, chop him up, and feed him to the dogs."

The warrants reveal new insight into Jones' mental state just before the children were killed. Lexington County Sheriff's Department investigators and Jones' legal team have indicated he's been treated for mental illness in the past.

According to investigators, an incident happened on August 28th near a Walmart in Lexington County

"Jones admitted that (he) forced the child and her four siblings out of the vehicle near a Walmart store within Lexington County. Jones stated that he believed the children were going to kill him, chop him up and feed him to the dogs," the warrant says.

Warrants in Jones' file suggest investigators believe the Walmart incident and the children's murder happened on the same day. Investigators believe Jones murdered his children inside their Lexington County home.

"Jones then took actions to remove the victim's body and then traveled to Alabama where he placed the body in a plastic trash bag and discarded the said victim in a wooded area," the warrant says.

Jones was pulled over at a traffic checkpoint in Smith County, Mississippi on September 6th. Police their say they noticed blood in Jones' car.

"The defendant was subsequently located in Mississippi without the children and no ability to confirm their well being. The suspects vehicle contained a large amount on blood and hand written notes with directions to kill and mutilate bodies," the warrant says.

Jones led law enforcement to the bodies in a wooded area of Alabama on September 9th. That was 12 days after Lexington investigators believe the murders happened.

Jones is now housed with the South Carolina Department of Corrections after waiving his right to a first court appearance last week.

Prosecutors have not announced if they will seek the death penalty. Court records show Jones has been appointed two public defenders who are qualified for defending death penalty cases.