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Warrant: SC dad feared 5 slain kids would kill him

By WTOP Staff

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina father who authorities said killed his five children believed the kids “were going to kill him, chop him up and feed him to the dogs,” according to an unredacted arrest warrant released Wednesday.

Authorities said Timothy Ray Jones Jr. killed his children at his Lexington home, put the bodies in plastic trash bags and drove for nine days around the Southeast. The warrant said authorities found blood in his vehicle and handwritten notes about killing and mutilating bodies after he was stopped at a DUI checkpoint in Mississippi on Sept. 6.

The warrant was originally released last week, but Lexington County deputies blacked out some sentences. WLTX-TV and WIS-TV obtained an unaltered copy.

Jones ordered his children, ages 1 to 8, out of his vehicle at a Lexington Walmart on Aug. 28 because he “believed the children were going to kill him, chop him up and feed him to the dogs,” according to the warrant. Authorities have said Jones picked up his children from school and daycare that day, the last time they were seen alive.

Deputies think Jones took his children to their Lexington home and killed them a short time later. He dumped the bodies on a remote hillside near Camden, Alabama, authorities said.

Several hours later, an agitated and intoxicated Jones was stopped at a Smith County, Mississippi, checkpoint, authorities said. They have not said how the children were killed.

Jones’ statements came from a warrant charging him with unlawful neglect of a child. He also faces five counts of murder.

A message left for Jones’ lawyer was not returned Wednesday. Jones waived a first appearance hearing last week, and his attorneys said he has been treated for mental illness in the past and they want a mental evaluation conducted on him as soon as possible.

Daniel Jones, the district attorney of Smith County, Mississippi, told NBC News last week that Jones Jr. said his children were plotting to kill him and that notes referring to violence against the children were found.

“I think he probably just went mad,” said the prosecutor, who is not related to Jones Jr.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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