A 50-year-old Washington City man will spend the rest of his life in prison for slaying his wife and stepson in a failed murder-suicide attempt more than three years ago.
Richard Andrew Jones had pleaded no contest to two counts of aggravated murder in October.
On Tuesday, a judge sentenced Jones to two consecutive terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Over the last three years, Jones' case had been delayed several times due to questions over whether he was competent to stand trial after failing to kill himself after fatally shooting his wife, Michelle Jones, and her 19-year-old son, Christoper Ellis.
SWAT team officers found Richard Jones in his garage, suffering from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in the chin and head from a .45-caliber pistol. He was treated at a Las Vegas hospital for nearly two months after the episode.
Richard Jones said at the Tuesday hearing he couldn't remember the killings, maintaining that he believes he was drunk in Las Vegas that night.
He acknowledged, however, that prosecutors had amassed significant evidence against him, the Spectrum of St. George reported.
"If I'm responsible for these two deaths, then I need to be punished for it," he said. "Two beautiful people are gone and can never come back. If I am responsible, then I am deeply sorry."
According to testimony at a March preliminary hearing, at which prosecutors presented their evidence against Jones, Michelle Jones had called 911 on Feb. 18, 2011, in a frantic state.
"My husband just shot my son," she told dispatchers. "He's got a gun. He's going to hurt me now."
She was dead by the time police arrived. Her body was discovered in front of the couples' Washington City home. A medical examiner said she had been shot five times.
Her teenage son — shot six times — was found face-up on his bed, the room littered with shell casings.
Richard Jones could have faced the death penalty in the case, but his wife's family asked prosecutors not to seek it.
Ellis' father, meanwhile, asked the judge for the severest sentence possible on Tuesday.
"I'll never see him get married. I'll never have grandchildren by him," said Christopher Ellis, the Spectrum reported, saying Richard Jones caused his own memory loss the night of the killings.
The defendant's son, Dillon Jones, asked the judge to allow for the possibility of eventual release from prison.
Ludlow sided with prosecutors, who said Richard Jones killed two people he should have been taking care of.
"You violently took the lives of two innocent people," Ludlow said. "Mr. Jones, you will die as an inmate of the Utah State Prison. That is a sobering reality,"
— The Associated Press contributed to this story.
jmiller@sltrib.com
Twitter: @jm_miller
Jud Burkett | Pool Photo Richard Andrew Jones , left, addresses his family members prior to being sentenced to serve two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the 2011 murders of his stepson and wife while his defense attorney Jeremy Delicino, right, listens from the defense table in 5th District Court Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014.
Jud Burkett | Pool Photo Richard Andrew Jones , second from left, bows his head while 5th District Court Judge Eric Ludlow sentences him to serve two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the 2011 murders of his stepson and wife as he stands at the defense table with his attorneys, Stephen McCaughey, right, and Jeremy Delicino, in 5th District Court Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014.
Jud Burkett | Pool Photo Richard Andrew Jones , left, bites his lip as family members of the victims testify at his sentencing hearing in 5th District Court Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014. Judge Eric Ludlow sentenced Jones to serve two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the 2011 murders of his stepson and wife.
Jud Burkett | Pool Photo Richard Andrew Jones , second from left, closes his eyes while 5th District Court Judge Eric Ludlow sentences him to serve two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the 2011 murders of his stepson and wife as he stands at the defense table with his attorneys, Stephen McCaughey, right, and Jeremy Delicino, in 5th District Court Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014.
Jud Burkett | Pool Photo Richard Andrew Jones' defense attorney Stephen McCaughey, left, addresses the court during his client's sentencing hearing in 5th District Court Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014. Judge Eric Ludlow sentenced Jones to serve two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the 2011 murders of his stepson and wife.
Jud Burkett | Pool Photo Richard Andrew Jones , left, addresses the court prior during his sentencing hearing in 5th District Court Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014. Judge Eric Ludlow sentenced Jones to serve two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the 2011 murders of his stepson and wife.
Jud Burkett | Pool Photo 5th District Court Judge Eric Ludlow listens to testimony during the sentencing hearing for Richard Andrew Jones Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014. Ludlow sentenced Jones to serve two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the 2011 murders of his stepson and wife.
Jud Burkett | Pool Photo Richard Andrew Jones , left, listens as family members of the victims testify at his sentencing hearing in 5th District Court Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014. Judge Eric Ludlow sentenced Jones to serve two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the 2011 murders of his stepson and wife.
Jud Burkett | Pool Photo Richard Andrew Jones , left, bows his head as family members of the victims testify at his sentencing hearing in 5th District Court Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014. Judge Eric Ludlow sentenced Jones to serve two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the 2011 murders of his stepson and wife.
Jud Burkett | Pool Photo Washington County Deputy Attorney Ryan Schaum, right, addresses the court during the sentencing hearing for Richard Andrew Jones in 5th District Court Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014. Judge Eric Ludlow sentenced Jones to serve two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the 2011 murders of his stepson and wife.
