0:00 [Music] It is a disturbing case that shook the state of New Mexico. Now, new court documents reveal 13-year-old Jeremiah Valencia was likely raped and burned before his tragic murder. News3's Rebecca Atkins is here with details. Well, Kim, in dozens of pages of search warrant affidavit, more gruesome details of what was done to Jeremiah Valencia have emerged and new evidence has been collected. Jeremiah Valencia was just 13 years old when he was brutally tortured, killed, and then buried on the side of a highway near Nambay. His mother Tracy Pena, her boyfriend, Tomas Ferguson, and his son Jordan Nunees are all charged in the boy's murder.
0:45 It's hard to sleep at night. Just thinking about the the abuses poor child went through. When investigators opened the small plastic container sealed with duct tape, they saw a nightmare that would haunt them for the rest of their lives. Jeremiah lay there curled up, wrapped in plastic bags, with his jaw broken in two places so badly that bone was sticking through his gums. His innocent eyes were forever closed after months of systematic torture. But the true horror was revealed when investigators searched the house in Nambi, where this boy had once been happy. There wasn't a single wall not covered with his blood. There wasn't a single room where they didn't find torture weapons, a homemade spear, brass
1:32 knuckles, a sledgehammer, an electric shock collar, a dog cage. All of this had been the boy's only reality in his final months of life. The boy was killed slowly and deliberately. An adult man put him through every possible suffering and humiliation, becoming aroused by his helplessness and pain. He forced everyone in the family to participate so that each would become an accomplice and wouldn't think to call the police. For 7 months, Jeremiah didn't attend school and no one noticed. For 2 months, he lay dead in a grave and no one searched for him. This is the story of a boy who became invisible to the world long before his death. A story about how an
2:18 entire society failed one child at every level and about why this must never happen again. Please like this video and subscribe to the channel. Such important stories should be known by as many people as possible to prevent similar tragedies. Don't forget to share this video because everyone should understand how to protect children. In the comments, mention your city and the time when you're watching this video. This will help understand when my audience is most active for such important stories. On December 6th, 2003 in Nambi, New Mexico, Jeremiah Andrew Valencia was born. He had incredible eyes and a smile that could melt any heart. A year later,
3:03 he got a younger sister. His first and most loyal friend in an unstable family. Tracy Anne Pena and Andrew Valencia weren't the most exemplary parents. They constantly faced legal troubles, addiction, and poverty. When family life became chaotic due to his parents' problems, Jeremiah and his sister found refuge with their grandmother, Terresa Tapia. In her house, the boy could just be a child. play, laugh, feel protected. His godmother, Selene Mera, also became a source of love and care. Even in early childhood, Jeremiah showed his special character. He had a rare gift, the ability to see good in every person. The little boy could spend hours playing
3:49 with the family dogs, petting every stray cat, watching birds with delight. Animals felt his kindness and were drawn to him. At age six, an event happened that would forever change Jeremiah's life. Andrew Valencia was sent to prison. His father would never see his son alive again. At school, Jeremiah blossomed as a person. Teachers remembered the boy who wasn't shy at all and radiated genuine kindness and eagerness to learn. Jeremiah loved Batman, learned to play the trumpet, started listening to rapper Logic, and rooted for the Panthers team. But two passions stood out, especially animals and cars. He knew makes and models and dreamed of getting his driver's license.
4:36 But his dream was special. "When I get my license, I'll drive all of you around," he told his family. Even in his dreams, he thought about others. During these years, he became especially close with his halfsister, Karen Gonzalez. She would take him fishing in Picos, where Jeremiah would sit for hours with his fishing rod, enjoying nature. He loved cars, sports, building things, Karen remembered. By age 13, Jeremiah had become a wonderful teenager. This was a boy full of plans for the future, who loved his family, believed in goodness, and in people. It was this trusting nature that would soon become fatal. In February 2017, Tracy Pena inexplicably
5:22 removed 13-year-old Jeremiah from school, telling officials she would enroll him in another school in Santa Fe, but she never did. Schools often serve as the last line of defense for children being abused at home. Jeremiah disappeared from the education system. No one checked whether he had enrolled in a new school. This became essentially a death sentence for Jeremiah. Around June 2017, Thomas Wayne Ferguson entered the family's life. A 42-year-old man with a long history of violence against women and children. He deliberately chose victims, women with addictions, with children with criminal backgrounds, those who could be controlled. Tracy Pena fit this profile perfectly. A woman
6:10 with illegal substances addiction. 22 arrests behind her, two children, and a desperate need for male support. Ferguson came with his 19-year-old son, Jordan Nunees. This young man was himself a victim of his father. In childhood, his father had been extremely cruel to his son and his mother. Until age 18, Jordan had gone through 11 different foster families and psychiatric institutions. But now he desperately sought a connection with his biological father, trying to earn his approval, not understanding what price this would cost. Ferguson immediately made Jeremiah and his sister wary. He was rough and harsh, could hit Tracy or Jordan. He
6:56 wasn't friendly with neighbors, and immediately got dogs so no one would come into their yard. Although Jeremiah annoyed Ferguson, he immediately got along with Ferguson's dogs. The boy, who had loved animals all his life, could spend hours playing with his new four-legged friends. He played with them, fed them, took care of them. But warning signs appeared in the first weeks. Ferguson began establishing strict rules in the house. Jeremiah could no longer freely go out to play. He was forbidden from talking to some friends. Discipline, Ferguson explained to Tracy. Jeremiah's younger sister would later say he was always angry and was always rude to everyone in the house. By August, Ferguson began
7:43 actively isolating Jeremiah from the outside world. The boy was forbidden from calling his grandmother Teresa or godmother Celine. When relatives tried to visit, Ferguson found reasons not to receive them. Punishments began for the slightest infractions. Ferguson constantly slapped and hit Jeremiah on the back of the head. He deprived him of food for disobedience. He locked him in his room for long periods. Tracy, under the influence of illegal substances and fear of Ferguson, didn't intervene. Jeremiah began changing before their eyes. The cheerful, outgoing boy became withdrawn and frightened. He no longer smiled easily or made friends with a single word. Fear settled in his eyes.
8:31 In fall 2017, Ferguson began tormenting Jeremiah without stopping. He beat Jeremiah himself and allowed Jordan to beat him. He demanded that his sister also participate in the punishments. Ferguson created an entire system of humiliation. Now, a dog cage appeared in the house. Ferguson would beat the boy, force him to take off all his clothes, put on an adult diaper, and get into the cage. With a sadistic smirk, he explained, "If you behave like an animal, you'll live like an animal." But it was Ferguson who behaved like an animal. He would urinate on him, enjoying the humiliation of his victim and his suffering from the urine getting on wounds and burning severely. And
9:17 locked in the cage, Jeremiah would scratch himself and cry from pain. The dogs that had once brought Jeremiah so much joy now received better treatment than he did. If the dogs are starving, I'll starve Jeremiah became Ferguson's favorite phrase. The boy began losing weight, his clothes hanging on his thin body. His sister and mother secretly fed the boy when Ferguson was away. By November, Ferguson expanded his list of educational tools. Now, he didn't just beat the boy. He used brass knuckles and boots with metal toes. Ferguson loved to educate Jeremiah most in his room. After using illegal substances, he would put the boy in front of the fireplace and
10:04 practice hits on him. Each day, the fireplace and wall near it became more and more stained with the poor child's blood. Injuries accumulated and now Jeremiah could only walk with a cane. Days when the tormentor was absent brought little relief. In Ferguson's absence, the boy had to stay in the cage in a diaper. When Jordan got bored, he would let Jeremiah out of the cage and walk him, putting an electric shock collar for dogs on his leg and a leash. Having fun, he would send electric current so Jeremiah would jerk and scream. Returning after one trip, Ferguson made a homemade spear. A new entertainment appeared in the House of Horror. Now Ferguson poked Jeremiah with
10:50 the sharp spear. He forced everyone in the house to participate in torturing Jeremiah. The younger sister was forced to stab her brother with the spear. Jordan put the electric collar on the boy's leg and pressed the button. Even Tracy sometimes participated under Ferguson's pressure. Ferguson himself began using a new tool. He would take a sledgehammer and bring it down on the boy's hands, who couldn't even properly resist. The house turned into a real torture chamber. Not a single wall remained without splashes of Jeremiah's blood. In every room lay instruments of his torment. The humiliations became increasingly sophisticated. Ferguson, intoxicated by illegal substances,
11:36 wanted to completely crush the innocent soul of the child. Sexual abuse was perfect for this. The boy could no longer walk, even with a cane. An old wheelchair appeared in the house. Now Jeremiah could only sit in it and look out the window. The boy no longer expected anything and didn't believe in rescue. Only sometimes he came alive when his sister slipped over to him and hugged him. Her heart achd for her brother. He was really skinny. All his cuts were infected. He had a black eye and his teeth were knocked out. The sister later described her brother's condition to detectives. On November 24th, 2017, a tragic mischance to save the boy occurred. Thomas Ferguson was
12:22 stopped by police in the parking lot of a Walmart in Santa Fe. He had an expired license, an active arrest warrant, and had violated the terms of his probation. Despite this, officers let Ferguson go without even a ticket while they arrested Tracy Pena on municipal warrants. Yeah. So, that means that she didn't refer to you as Thomas Ferguson. I'm a friend. So, all right, sir. Just make sure you don't uh conceal your identity because it's not You don't want to charge. No, I know. I'm not saying I'm not going to say this. You know what I'm saying? My paper should be right here, Luke. Okay. So, you're going to have to confirm with your social security number and everything. Okay. So, what I'd like you to do, I'd like you to write your name, your date of birth, and your social security number. And like this officer said, giving me the wrong name, the wrong date
13:08 of birth, or social security number. It's an offense. It's called concealing identification. Understand that, sir? Yes, sir. True name, true date of birth, and social security number. All right. So you so your your real name is Thomas, not Tommy. Tommy, how do you appear? How do you appear on your license? My license it should be one of them said Tommy the old one and one says Thomas. Will I be able to drive it or no? Who will I be able to drive it or no? Well, if your license is suspended, my recommendation is it's not expired or expired. My recommendation is that you get someone with a valid license. That way you don't incur any additional additional charges or anything. And is the vehicle registered? No, I was going to do that today. So sir, that's why I want to get insurance.
13:54 But that plate belongs to this car. I just bought the truck today. And what about the plate? The plate does. The plate belongs to the car. Yes, that's what they told me. These officers held Jeremiah's lifeline in their hands and they let it slip away. Thanksgiving Day, when families across America gathered around holiday tables, Jeremiah Valencia experienced the most terrible day of his life. On this day, Ferguson beat Jeremiah so brutally that he finally broke his jaw in two places. Bone pierced through the boy's gums, but Ferguson didn't stop. Ferguson grabbed Jeremiah by the neck, lifted him, and pressed him against the wall. Then he turned the boy upside down, and began hitting his head against
14:39 the concrete floor. After the beating, Ferguson shoved the dying Jeremiah into the dog cage. The boy was still alive, but barely breathing. And then Jordan committed the action that finally ended the child's life. He began flipping the cage with Jeremiah inside over and over until the boy finally fell silent. His sister, understanding that something terrible was happening, cried and tried to push Jordan away, but couldn't help. Jeremiah Valencia died in pain and despair in a dog cage at the hands of people who should have protected him. He was only 13 years old. The next morning, Ferguson called his son. Together, Ferguson and Jordan washed Jeremiah's
15:25 body in the bathtub to clean the blood off him, then placed him in his bedroom. This is how Tracy found Jeremiah when she returned home on November 26th. After Jeremiah's death, a horrifying attempt to hide the crime began. Ferguson forced Tracy and Jordan to wrap the boy in plastic and put him in a container like garbage. 3 days the body lay in the garage. Then Ferguson forced Tracy to watch as he and Jordan dug a grave near the road 503 and buried the boy. The most shocking thing about this story is that no one noticed Jeremiah's disappearance for 2 months. The boy was dead and buried, but the world continued living as if nothing had happened.
16:11 School officials didn't notice that a student hadn't returned after vacation. Social services didn't check on a child who had previously been under their supervision. Neighbors didn't ask about the boy, certain he was living with his grandmother. Only Seline, his godmother, continued searching. She called relatives, drove to addresses, contacted police. Every turn was a dead end, she would later say. The truth was revealed only through chance and prison gossip. In January 2018, Tracy Pena was again in Santa Fe County Jail charged with violating her probation. Ferguson was also in jail by this time on other charges. In the jail cell, Tracy couldn't bear the weight of the secret
16:58 and told a cellmate the terrible truth. My son is dead. Thomas killed him. The words burst out of her like pus from an infected wound. The inmate couldn't remain silent and passed this information to sheriff's investigators. On January, investigators received the tip that changed everything. Armed with this devastating confession, police began an urgent investigation that would finally bring Jeremiah home. On January 28th, 2018, exactly two months after his death, they found his small body buried in a shallow grave near Nambi. If Jeremiah had been alive, he would have turned 14. On January 29th through 30th, 2018, Thomas Ferguson, Tracy Pena, and
17:45 Jordan Nunees were arrested on charges of child abuse resulting in death. I thought, what can I say to to comfort the public? um and and and the folks out there that are following this case and unfortunately I I have absolutely nothing for you. I would like to say that the three individuals are behind bars. Um but that's not not enough in this in my years in law enforcement. I would think that this is the uh one of the most terrifying type of of investigations that I've seen. He was placed in a dog kennel for hours on end without food. Um, it's it's absolutely heartbreaking. These acts are senseless. It's hard to sleep at night just
18:32 thinking about the the abuses for child went through. Thomas Ferguson refused to cooperate with the investigation. On April 27th, 2018, he was found dead in his cell. We will never know the answers to many questions in this story. Only Thomas Ferguson and Jeremiah knew those answers. In early August 2018, shocking autopsy results were published. The office of the medical investigator confirmed that 13-year-old Jeremiah Valencia died from blunt force trauma and had multiple new and old injuries consistent with police theory, that he was beaten and tortured before his death. The autopsy report classified the teenager's manner of death as homicide
19:17 and detailed numerous injuries to his body, including multiple jaw fractures, a displaced eyeball, tears in his scalp, cheek, and ear, and a broken hand, and ribs. There were also signs of sexual abuse, and portions of his body had possibly been burned, but the examination was limited by the decomposed nature of the remains. Forensic experts found traces of blood in every room of the house where Jeremiah lived, as well as traces of his DNA in the dog cage, homemade spear-like object made with a screwdriver taped to a metal bar, sledgehammer, collar, brass knuckles, and Ferguson's boots. Tracy Pena accepted a plea agreement, receiving 12 years in prison in exchange
20:03 for testimony against Nunees. Jordan Nunees pleaded guilty in March 2020 and was sentenced to 21 years in prison in October 2021. At the trial, Nunees said, "I sincerely regret not calling 911. That was one of my biggest mistakes." The story of Jeremiah is not just a tale of tragedy. It's a painful reminder that children, the most vulnerable among us, need protection from all of society. Every adult, teacher, neighbor, relative, social worker is the last line of defense between a child and darkness. Jeremiah believed in the goodness of people. He trusted adults. He dreamed of the day when he would get his driver's
20:50 license so he could drive around everyone he loved. Even in his dreams, he thought about others. The system and people failed Jeremiah in life. But his death must not be in vain. Every time we see a child in trouble and intervene, every time we demand accountability from systems, every time we refuse to turn a blind eye to suffering, we honor the memory of Jeremiah and other little angels. Rest in peace, little angel Jeremiah. June 10th, 2015. A stole cheese from the fridge. Punishment 24 hours in the pit outside. Temperature 95° F. He vomited three times. No water. Tomorrow we check
21:36 if he is alive. July 15th, 2015. A ran toward neighbors. Caught him 200 yd out for the lesson. Cut off left pinky. Screamed like a gutted pig. Heather said, "Now you're our little cripple." August 3rd, 2015. Use drill wires at 12 Vt today attached to nipples. A [ __ ] himself from pain. Heather laughed. September 2nd, 2015. A cursed at me again. Decision made. That's enough. Tomorrow finale. Pigs are hungry. These words were not written by a horror movie character. Their author is a real
22:24 person, a father. In his diary, a 96-page notebook, police found methodical records of torture inflicted on his own 7-year-old son. Pages that the Kansas Supreme Court ordered to be classified and partially destroyed, considering that they could provoke mass suicides. The story you are about to hear took place almost 10 years ago. It shook America, sparked a wave of public outrage, and led to high-profile lawsuits and legislative changes. But gradually, this tragedy began to fade from collective memory. News articles have been archived, and the primary sources, photographs, surveillance camera footage, social media screenshots, and court documents are
23:11 becoming increasingly difficult to find. Mentions of this boy's name and publication of his photographs are now marked as sensitive content on many platforms or completely blocked by moderation algorithms. But we will trace the entire tragic path from the moment man abandoned his pregnant partner Diane for his mistress Heather to the last day of the little boy's life who became an innocent victim of this betrayal. You will see how one act of selfishness set off a chain reaction of events that led to unimaginable cruelty. We'll reveal two conflicting versions of his death as the inquest has been unable to reconstruct an accurate version of events and let you decide for yourselves
23:57 where the truth lies. Dear friends, the algorithms will do everything they can to keep this story from spreading. So, please support this video by watching to the end. Like and share. Let's remember together a wonderful boy who had his childhood and life stolen from him. Adrien Jones was born on May 15th, 2008 in Lawrence, Kansas. From the first days of his life, he was a happy, cheerful child. The boy had a particularly bright, genuine smile that, according to his grandmother, Judy Conway, lit up his whole face. Adrien loved football and always told his family that he would definitely be a football player when he grew up. He was just a typical little
24:44 boy full of life, his grandmother later recalled. He was just always smiling, always happy. Adrienne loved nature, showing care even for his toys. Every evening, he would carefully cover his plush friends with a blanket. Despite his young age, he had a rare quality for a child, the ability to empathize with others. From his earliest days, the boy was never destined to know stability or genuine parental love. The story of betrayal and pain began even before his birth when his father, Michael Jones, abandoned pregnant Diane Pierce, Adrienne's mother, for his mistress Heather. Michael and Diane were never married, but their separation literally destroyed her mental health. She fell
25:31 into deep depression, couldn't manage her life or care for her children, which ultimately led to Adrienne being found unattended at home and removed by child protective services along with his sisters. Adrienne's grandmother, Judy Conway, also intervened. Seeing her grandchildren's dire situation, she immediately contacted CPS and began fighting for custody of all her daughter's children. However, this struggle wasn't destined for complete success. Judy managed to get custody only of her eldest granddaughter, Kayona Doctor, born in 1996, who wasn't Michael's biological daughter. Adrien and his two sisters, Madison and Bella, were placed in their father's custody,
26:16 despite the fact that he had shown little interest in them for many years. One might think Adrienne's life would improve in his father's home. At first glance, a former police officer, successful businessman with a new wife and stable income. What could go wrong? Heather and Michael jointly managed not only a bail bonds business, but also a company called Paperchase Promotions, organizing MMA fights. Heather also earned money selling Michael Kors watches and other goods online. When Diana's three children, Adrien, Madison, and Bella, arrived at their father's house, they joined Heather's children from previous relationships. Thus, seven children lived in the house. Adrienne
27:02 even trusted Heather, telling her about the suffering he experienced living with his mother and her numerous boyfriends. As a result of these conversations, Adrienne was diagnosed with PTSD and serious emotional detachment conditions that required special care, understanding, and professional help. But compassion was the last thing Adrienne found in this home. Instead of care, the boy faced a real hell that lasted until his death. Notably, out of the seven children in the home, only Adrien became the target of systematic and cruel abuse. Over time, teachers began noticing worrying signs. At Overland Trail Elementary School, teacher Linda Garcia sent five
27:47 requests to CPS. In her reports, she wrote that the child was eating paper from the trash and there were iron marks visible on his back. The horrifying response from CPS was, "The parents explained that the boy practices Parker." This absurd excuse was accepted without further investigation. Neighbors also weren't blind to what was happening. Martha Klene, who lived across the street, once heard the boy screaming, "Just kill me!" when he was locked on the balcony during winter. Police came twice, but Michael simply showed his former police officer ID, and the case was closed. The system meant to protect the most vulnerable proved powerless against the manipulations of
28:33 someone who knew it from the inside. Even when Adrienne's biological mother, Dana, tried to see her son in 2014, Michael threatened her with a gun. She filed a police report, but this investigation mysteriously got lost. Later, a teenage neighbor, a 16-year-old boy whose name is hidden, admitted he saw Adrien being walked on a leash in 2014. But his parents forbade him from airing dirty laundry, saying, "It's not our business." A gym teacher once noticed that the boy couldn't feel pain. He broke his finger, but didn't even cry out. CPS attributed this to autism without conducting a proper investigation.
29:19 At school, Adrien showed all the signs of abuse, becoming increasingly withdrawn, though occasionally complaining about being beaten at home. His school grades, which had been excellent until 2013, suddenly dropped dramatically. Another alarming signal of the beginning of systematic abuse, ignored by the system. In the following years, the situation rapidly deteriorated. Michael and Heather subjected Adrienne to systematic torture, which they methodically recorded and documented in photos and videos as if conducting a scientific experiment. In March 2014, Adrien was briefly placed in the Spaford Rehabilitation Center, but not because of evidence of abuse, rather because
30:04 Michael directly stated that he didn't want him. Medical records confirmed that the child had experienced serious abuse and neglect. But despite this, on September 4th, 2014, Adrien was returned to his father and stepmother. His stay at the center was the last bright spot in Adrienne's life. After returning to his father's house, his life became a living hell. He was starved, sometimes not fed for several days. When food was given, he was forced to eat from a dog bowl with his hands tied behind his back. He was kept locked in a shower with only a mat and a dog bowl. He was tied to an inversion table with a blindfold, forced to stand with raised
30:51 arms for 5 6 hours until his limbs swelled. Locked in a suitcase for extended periods, made to stand in a dirty, cold pool for hours, sometimes all night, forced to wear a spiked collar around his neck, subjected to electric shocks with the charge held for 15 20 seconds. During this time, the family led a double life. On social media, Heather posted pictures of a happy family with the #perfect family. At the same time, Heather was diligently documenting more and more abusive options for Adrien and how his condition was rapidly deteriorating. Michael and Heather isolated the children from the outside world under
31:36 the pretext of homeschooling in the so-called Jones Academy, where very little actual education took place. The family frequently moved between Kansas and Missouri, each time telling Child Protective Services in one state that they had supposedly moved to the other. This clever trick helped them avoid follow-up inspections. While the other children in the family led quite normal lives, eating from McDonald's, visiting shopping malls, cinemas, and entertainment centers, Adrien was desperate to survive. On one recording made in winter when he was forced to stand in the freezing cold, a conversation with Heather can be heard. Why are you doing that?
32:21 Because I keep on getting out. All this time, Michael's uncle, Willie Flowers, also lived in the house. He witnessed what was happening, but never intervened or reported it to authorities. The year 2015 became the last year of Adrienne's short life. Now we know how events unfolded thanks to Michael's diary, photographs, and video recordings that later became the main evidence. On June 15th, 2015, shortly after his 7th birthday, Adrien was punished for stealing cheese from the refrigerator. He was forced to spend 24 hours in a pit
33:07 outside in 95° heat without water while vomiting. In July, the boy made a desperate escape attempt to the neighbors. Michael caught him 200 yd from home and according to his own records, cut off a finger. Heather called the bleeding child our little [ __ ] In August, Michael used 12 volt wires from a drill, attaching them to Adrienne's body. In his diary, he coldly notes that the boy soiled himself from pain while Heather laughed. By the end of summer, Adrienne was so emaciated that he could neither sit nor stand. He was tied to a garden chair and placed in a shower stall, the glass door of which was replaced with a piece of plywood
33:54 with a lock. One of his sisters recalled hearing her brother shouting through the vent, "I'm dying." To which Heather coldly replied, "Deal with it." Under the floorboard in the house, investigators later discovered Adrienne's own secret diary. In one of the last entries made about a month before his death were the words, "Dad said I will die today. I hope it's true." For a child who once smiled openly at the world and dreamed of becoming a footballer, death was a welcome relief from unbearable suffering. September was the last month of Adrienne's life, and there are two versions of his death. Adrienne was spending more and more time in the shower with the exit blocked, tied to a
34:40 chair. He couldn't even move. Heather had installed a surveillance camera and was sadistically enjoying watching him. On September 2nd, 2015, Michael wrote in his diary, "A cursed at me again. Decision made. It is enough. Tomorrow, the finale, pigs are hungry." The next day, September 3rd, at 11:17 p.m., he uploaded a video to cloud storage that was later deleted but recovered by digital forensics. There are two contradictory versions of what happened next. According to the first version, later put forward by Heather, Adrienne died accidentally from exhaustion being tied to a chair in the shower stall. She
35:26 described it as tragic negligence. He was too weak. We left him for a short while, and when we returned, he was no longer breathing. The prosecution insisted on the second version. Adrienne's death was a coldly planned murder. The video shows Michael hitting Adrien with a baseball bat, and you can hear bones cracking. Adrien falls unconscious. Heather checks his pulse and states, "He's dead." Michael replies, "Cut him up. The pigs are hungry." Whatever the exact cause of death, Michael and Heather's subsequent actions were equally horrifying. They left the boy's body in the shower for 2 weeks. Then, when the smell became unbearable, they bought pigs,
36:13 deliberately didn't feed them for several days, and fed Adrienne's remains to them. Another horrifying detail, Adrien DNA was found on a chainsaw. The planning for this act was in advance a few days before Adrienne's death. Heather typed into Google how to quickly dissolve bones in acid and how much do pigs eat per day. Her Pinterest account had a board called with pins such as how to make a cage for large animals and economical recipes using all parts. Most horrifically, for almost 3 months after the murder, no one noticed Adrienne's absence. Only on November 25th, 2015, on Thanksgiving Day, did police receive a
36:59 domestic violence call. Heather reported that Michael had attacked her, tried to strangle her, and threatened her with a weapon. When the police arrived at the house, they found one child missing. The other six children, girls between the ages of 2 and 10, were immediately removed and placed under state protection. Under duress, Heather admitted that Adrienne had died back in September and that Michael had disposed of his body. Michael Jones, 44th, was arrested and charged with child abuse, aggravated assault, and aggravated battery. The next day, the police returned with a search warrant and found human remains in a black plastic container with a pink lid in the livestock pen. Forensic examination
37:47 confirmed these were Adrienne's bones. only the skull, jawbone, and a few teeth. Everything else had been destroyed. At first, Heather played the role of a victim and tried to convince the investigation that she was not involved in Adrienne's death. Mike knocked out my two front teeth. When I tried to stop him from hurting Adrian, I told him that was enough. And um that was probably one of the worst times that he had ever heard me. But the investigation worked tirelessly and soon Heather was arrested as well. 29year-old Heather Jones was booked into
38:33 jail in December 10th and charged with firstderee murder and child abuse. Her bail was set at $5 million. Michael's charge was also upgraded to firstdegree murder. His bail was set at $10 million. $5 million. That is what a KCK stepmother charged with murder will have to pay to get out of jail. The judge decided to keep the bond at $5 million during Heather Jones first court appearance this morning. Heather and her husband Michael Jones both face murder and child abuse charges. When the landlord Jennifer Hoovers came into the house, she was shocked at what they'd turned it into. [Music] I was shocked um and disgusted and
39:19 um it took my breath away. Fast food rappers everywhere. There's milk. I mean, there's rotting food everywhere. Jennifer Hoovers has been working up the courage to come back here after news broke a couple she was renting her home to were charged with first-degree murder. I think I was in shock um probably for the first few days. Um kind of in denial. She began renting this home to Michael and Heather Jones a year and a half ago. She says they seemed like a nice family who showed interest in buying the home eventually. They were very polite, um, respectful, didn't see any issues with them. But as she walks through her home, she sees a very different side, a different life the Joneses were living. I don't understand it at all. Um, having
40:07 little kids myself, I just I don't know how anybody could allow their kids to live like this. Landlord Jennifer Hoovers played a key role in revealing the details of this crime. After Heather's arrest, she asked Jennifer to go to the house and save photos of her children from her iCloud account. Instead, Jennifer discovered hundreds of photos and videos of Adrienne being abused, which she saved in a folder called House of Horrors, and handed over to police. Experienced detective Brad Lancaster worked on the case, who, according to colleagues, worked countless hours, even sacrificed sleep for justice for Adrien. It was as if he had a premonition and was trying to do as much for justice for Adrien as
40:52 he could. Tragically, he died in the line of duty before the investigation was completed, but his colleagues finished the case. The trials of Michael Jones and Heather Jones became some of the most emotional in Kansas state history. Judge Robert Sandler, with 30 years of experience, called Michael's actions the most disgusting in his judicial practice, adding, "This is the worst thing I've seen in 30 years. They turned a child into animal feed." Michael pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, trying to justify himself. I didn't want his death, but he pushed us, stole food, lied. His lawyer chose a defense strategy based on temporary insanity. Cynical considering the
41:38 methodical torture documented in the diary. In the end, Michael received 25 years in prison. Heather also pleaded guilty, but tried to shift the main responsibility to Michael. It was Michael who came up with feeding him to the pigs. I only helped. Her lawyer tried to present her as a hostage to Michael's sadism, but the court rejected this version. Judge Sarah Sheridan denied a reduced sentence, calling Heather an active participant, not a victim of circumstances. She received life imprisonment. A memorial service was held for 7-year-old Adrien Jones on Saturday, October 21st, 2016, and his remains were then buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lawrence, Kansas. In 2017,
42:27 Adrienne's biological maternal grandmother, his mother, and his eldest sister all filed a lawsuit alleging that both social workers in Kansas and Missouri knew that the boy was being tortured and could have prevented his death. The lawsuit was seeking $25 million in punitive damages. And while the Kansas agency would argue that it was difficult to keep tabs on the family because they were so often moving, they would finally end up paying the boy's family $1 million in March of 2024 to settle the lawsuit. Adrienne's tragedy led to important changes in legislation. In 2018, Adrienne's law was passed, requiring mandatory camera installation in homes where children are registered
43:12 with child protective services. Today, Michael Jones is serving his sentence at El Dorado Correctional Facility in Kansas. Heather Jones is in Topeka Women's Prison. In 2023, her appeal claiming she acted under duress was rejected. The prosecutor speaking at the Adrienne's trial uttered a phrase that became the epitap of this tragedy. They killed him twice. First morally, then physically. And Detective Steuart Littlefield added, "I am begging you, please remember Adrien. He was 7 years old. He was tortured and beaten and starved to death. He was left to rot in his shower that ultimately became his coffin. And when his parents
43:58 could no longer stand the stench, what was left of his little body was fed to pigs. Sometimes I find myself looking at random houses wondering if another Adrian is trapped behind the door because there were people that saw the marks on his body and said nothing. The memory of 7-year-old Adrien Thomas Jones should become not only a bitter reminder of human cruelty, but also a call for vigilance and compassion. Each of us can be the one who doesn't pass by someone else's trouble and perhaps saves someone's life. Rest in peace, little angel Adrien. I just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who watched this video all the way through. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this case in the comments, and please don't forget to subscribe to my channel. I'd also like
44:44 to send a special thank you to everyone who has donated to support my channel. Your support means the world to me and gives me the motivation to keep making new and interesting investigations for you, my wonderful viewers. Thank you all so much. [Music]
