Tragic Family Incident: Grandfather’s Actions Lead to Four Lives Lost

A tragic incident in Arizona has left a family shattered, with four members, including two young children and their mother, found dead in what appears to be a murder-suicide.

The victims, identified as 31-year-old Justice Jones and her children, Kyle, aged 10, and Tyme, aged 8, were discovered with fatal gunshot wounds in their home in Pima on October 16. Also found in the residence was the body of Justice’s father, 64-year-old Duane Michael Jones, who reportedly had a firearm in his possession at the time of discovery, according to the Pima Police Department and reports from The Gila Herald.

Authorities were alerted to the scene after responding to a welfare check call around 1 p.m. on the day of the incident. Upon arrival, officers discovered the bodies and quickly secured the area for a detailed investigation. The probe was a collaborative effort that included support from the police forces of nearby Safford and Thatcher, along with the Graham County Sheriff’s Office.

Family member Breana Flores spoke with Arizona’s Family, a Phoenix-based news outlet, providing insights into the identities of the victims and recounting the events leading up to the heartbreaking occurrence.

“I just hope that they were asleep, and no one had to see anything happen to the others, and that, you know, they didn’t have to experience any type of fear before it happened,” she expressed, hoping the victims were spared from fear in their final moments.

According to Flores, there was no indication that Duane Jones was dealing with any mental health issues before he allegedly slaughtered his family. But, she added, “Obviously we’re assuming [he was], because anybody of sane mind, this isn’t something that you do.”

Flores shared with Arizona’s Family that Justice Jones posted a haunting Facebook message the night before her family was found dead. According to Flores, “She had put a post on Facebook, and just said ‘Good night’ with the weird slant emoji on her face… I didn’t see it until after the fact, but there was something going on.”

The bodies of the four family members will undergo autopsies at the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner in Tucson. Flores started a GoFundMe to raise funds for the family, including the children’s father, Phillip Oates. Oates’ family also started a GoFundMe of their own.