January 2004, I was in the last semester of my senior year of high school. I was oblivious to the world around me. As a teenager, I did not usually plan further than the next weekend. I was definitely a naïve teenager. I do not really recall hearing this story during that time. I was very self-absorbed and did not bother myself with the troubles of others.
As a disclaimer, this crime involves children. It was a very heinous and unnecessary crime. I really wish that it had not taken place. There is speculation that the criminal is mentally ill and that is a defense that was used in his trial. Although I believe it would take a very mentally unstable person to commit the crimes that he committed, I also agree with the sentence that he received.
Jerry William Jones was born in 1972. There is not a lot of information available on his life other than his numerous arrests and comments from friends and family. He spent much of his life in and out of prison beginning around 1989. He received a 2-year sentence in Fulton County for theft by receiving stolen property. Then he received a 3-year sentence for theft of a motor vehicle in 1989. In 1992, he received a 1-year sentence for shoplifting and a 5-year sentence for theft by receiving stolen property. In Clayton County, he received a 5-year sentence for theft of a motor vehicle in 1992. He stole another car in Henry County and received a 3-year sentence. He was released in 1997 from Hardwick’s Scott State Prison after serving his time and placed on probation. In 1998, he was convicted of a misdemeanor theft charge in Orange County, Florida.
Things were quiet for a few years. In 1996, Jones lost his mother and stepfather in the Valujet plane crash that went down in the Florida Everglades. He received a large settlement from the accident. Friends and family commented that he spent the money very quickly and most of the money was spent on drugs.
In October 2000, Jones was found with a .22 caliber gun on him. August 15, 2001, his probation was revoked due to this infraction. He was sentenced to serve 6 months in prison and 4 ½ more years on probation along with $1000 fine. After his release, he was pulled over in 2003 by a Floyd County police officer. Jones was traveling 68-mph in a 45-mph zone. The officer cited him for driving on a revoked license, no insurance and felony obstruction of a police officer. He pled guilty to all charges in October 2003. He was sentenced to 4 years probation, a $2000 fine, and 250 hours of community service.
On December 4,2002, his probation officer filed to revoke his probation. The judge gave him credit for time served and sentenced him to intensive probation for 4 to 6 months.
Somehow during all his many stints in prison and legal troubles, Jones met and fell in love with Melissa Peeler. They had 3 children together: Brandy (4-years-old), Tammy (3-years-old), and Jerri (10-months old). The latter part of 2003, the couple lost custody of their children along with Peeler’s older daughter from another relationship. Her parents, Tommy and Nola Blaylock, were given custody of the children.
Ultimately, Jones and Peeler separated but their relationship remained volatile. The couple had an ongoing dispute according to family members. One family member called Jones “crazy” after an altercation with Jones in which Jones shot the family member’s horse. Jones was constantly threatening Peeler. He constantly called her and threatened to burn her mobile home. According to reports, Peeler moved on and began dating another man. This has been suggested as the motive for the murders. Jones was jealous and angry that Peeler had decided to move on with her life. He was seeking revenge. Around Christmas, Peeler traveled to Oregon to spend the holidays with her new boyfriend. This seems to be the spark that ignited the events that occurred next.
On January 4, 2004, somewhere between 11:00am and 2:00pm, Jones traveled to the home of Georgia Mae Blaylock. She was the sister of his ex-wife (common law), Melissa Peeler. He bound Georgia’s arms with duct tape behind her back and began questioning her as to why Peeler had left him. He then cut her clothes off, taped her face with duct tape and strangled her. Then he placed a plastic bag over her head and put her in a closet. She was an innocent bystander in the situation and had no control over the actions of her sister.
Jones then waited for Tom Blaylock, Peeler’s stepdad, to leave his home. His home was located next door to Mrs. Blaylock’s home. As Tom left, Jones shot him and covered his body with a tarp. He then entered the home and shot Peeler’s mother, Nola Blaylock. Next he committed what I consider the most vile and horrible of his crimes. He hung his 10 month old daughter, Jerri, with an electrical cord.
At this point, Jones waited for his other daughters to get home from school. His intention, according to testimony, was to kill all of his children and then to kill himself. When his other daughters arrive home, he puts them in Tom Blaylock’s red Ford Explorer and leaves. He is spotted traveling west on GA 156 at some point that afternoon.
Around 3:48pm, officers arrive at the Blaylock home to do a welfare check after Peeler called and requested it. She stated that she had not been able to get in touch with the Blaylock’s and feared something may be wrong. Officers look in the windows of the home and reported that everything seemed normal.
Later that night around 11:00pm, a sheriffs captain returned to the home after another call from Peeler. She stated that Jones called her and admitted to killing her family and threatened to start killing the children one by one if she notified authorities. The officer discovered the bodies of all of the victims during the search. A manhunt immediately began for Jones and Amber Alerts for issued for the missing children.
The next day, the vehicle was spotted traveling north on I-75 in the direction of Tennessee. Once the car entered into Catoosa County, five Catoosa County officers along with fifteen state patrol and Whitfield County officers pursued the car into East Ridge, Tennessee where the chase ended after an officer performed a spin maneuver that caused Jones to crash the car. Once the car was stopped, 10-year old Brittney Phelps ran from the vehicle. Jones pulled out his gun and shot himself in the mouth. The officers observed his body slump over. They pulled the other children out of the car. The children were covered in his blood. The bullet went through his chin and upper jaw, but did not kill him. Jones was taken by Life Force to Erlanger Medical Center where he was treated and made a full recovery.
Jerry Jones pled guilty to the murders and kidnapping. His trial mainly consisted of a sentencing hearing to determine whether he would receive the death penalty or life without parole. His defense attorney tried to paint a picture of a mentally ill man who was traumatized by a violent childhood. Although, his attorney did admit that they would not be seeking life with the possibility of parole due to the heinous nature of the crime. The prosecution told the jurors about a letter Jones wrote to Peeler while in jail. He wrote her to tell her that if she had been there, she could have saved her baby’s life. Ultimately, the jury returned a sentence of the death penalty. He is currently awaiting execution.
Cases like this really make me wonder what is wrong with this world. The thought of harming a child, let alone my child, makes me sick at my stomach. The actions of this man deserve a punishment far worse than just a death sentence. He tortured and murdered innocent people who had no hand in Peeler leaving him. They were just trying to take care of his children since custody was taken away. It boggles the mind as to why he thought his actions were appropriate retribution for Peeler breaking up with him. He may have mental health issues and that is sad but that does not excuse his actions.
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