The State charged Jones with sexual assault, three counts of child abuse, and the murder of Rachel Gray, age 4.

In April 1994, Rachel's mother and her three children were living with Jones. On the afternoon of May 1, 1994, while she was asleep, Jones took Rachel out of the house in his van, and was later seen hitting her with his hand and elbow.

When the mother awoke, she discovered that Rachel's head was cut and she was bleeding. Jones said that Rachel cut her head when some neighbor children pushed her down. Rachel continued to bleed and throw up during the night, but Jones would not let Angela take her to the hospital. By the time Rachel was taken to the hospital, she was dead as the result of a ruptured intestine.

The jurors found Jones guilty of all five counts. In addition to the sentence of death for the murder, the trial court sentenced Jones to concurrent sentences totaling 35 years for the first three counts, and a consecutive sentence of life with no parole eligibility for 35 years for the fourth count.

PROCEEDINGS

    Presiding Judge: James C. Carruth
    Prosecutor: Kathleen Mayer
    Start of Trial: April 5, 1995
    Verdict: April 14, 1995
    Sentencing: July 6, 1995

Aggravating Circumstances:

    Especially cruel
    Victim under 15 years of age    

Mitigating Circumstances:

    Defendant's family background

PUBLISHED OPINIONS

    State v, Jones, 188 Ariz. 388, 937 P.2d 310 (1997).