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Inmate May Receive Death Penalty for Prison Murder

Inmate May Receive Death Penalty for Prison Murder

On October 4, 2012, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri announced that an inmate at the U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners was indicted for murdering an inmate and attempting to murder a second inmate as well.  The defendant’s name is Ulysses Jones, Jr., and he is currently serving a life sentence for murder.  

 
On October 4, the government filed a motion to seek to the death penalty because the defendant’s actions “constituted a reckless disregard of human life.”  The government also stated the murder took “substantial planning and premeditation.”
 
Jones faces one count of murder and one count of murder by a federal prisoner service a life term.  According to the FBI, Jones killed the other inmate, Timothy Baker, on January 9, 2006 as Baker was asleep in his bed after taking sleeping pills.  The government has regarded the murder as aggravated because the victim “was particularly vulnerable due to infirmity.”  
 
The FBI reports that Jones also tried to kill another inmate known as “R.R.” on the same night.  Jones stabbed R.R. numerous times with a sharpened piece of metal, but R.R. survived.  
 
David M. Ketchmark, the Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, made the announcement.  He also announced that charges made during the indictment are only charges and do not constitute guilt.  The evidence will be presented before a federal trial jury.  The trial date has not yet been announced by the FBI.  
 
The state of Missouri still uses the death penalty for serious crime, and the government has recognized the actions of Jones as aggravated, planned, and malicious.  
 
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Bureau of Prisons.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Milligan is in charge of prosecution.  
 
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation