Home of slain Florida mom, 4 kids possibly vacant for weeks: What we know now

Officials continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a Florida mother and her four children, whose remains were discovered in Georgia. 

In a Facebook post, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Casei Jones, 32, was found dead in a van in Brantley County, which is near Brunswick, Georgia. 

Her husband, 38-year-old Michael Wayne Jones Jr., also led authorities to the remains of her four children: Cameron Bowers, 10; Preston Bowers, 5; Mercalli Jones, 2; and Aiyana Jones, 1.

Authorities issued an arrest warrant for Michael Jones for second degree murder in relation to is wife’s death and say that additional charges may be pending.

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'Evil needs to pay'

Police discovered Casei’s body in the van after her husband was involved in a traffic crash in Georgia. He then led authorities to the site where the four other victims’ remains were located.

Officials believe that the remains belonged to Casei’s four children. However, they have yet to be positively identified. A medical examiner’s report will determine if Jones will be charged with children’s murders as well.

After interviewing Jones, detectives believe that he killed all five victims at their residence in Summerfield, Florida. MSCO officials say he then stored the bodies in the van for several weeks before transporting them to Georgia.

"As a father, as a parent, it breaks my heart," Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said Monday. "As a sheriff, it angers me."

He added: "All we need to know is that’s evil. Evil did something. Evil needs to pay for what he did, plain and simple as that."

Missing for several weeks

On Saturday, Sept. 14, Casei’s mother called the sheriff’s department to do a wellness check for her daughter.

According to the police affidavit, Casei’s mother hadn’t heard from or seen her daughter for several weeks and was concerned Jones had harmed them.

When a deputy went to the Summerfield home, he noticed that the residence had been vacant for several weeks. He entered the residence after obtaining consent from the property owner and immediately noticed a “foul odor of decomposition.”

Authorities issued a missing/endangered release for Casei and her children. The release said she was last seen six weeks ago, however, MSCO says that they’re still working to confirm a concrete timeline of events.

Officials received a search warrant for the Summerfield home around the same time they were notified of Jones’ arrest in Georgia.

Next steps for police

Jones is currently being held at Brantley County Sheriff’s Office on the arrest warrant and will be extradited to Marion County.

There is a search warrant for both the residence in Summerfield and the van that is currently being transported to Marion County.

Authorities say they are collecting evidence from both sites.

Contributing: Jordan Culver, USA TODAY. Follow Adrianna Rodriguez on Twitter: @AdriannaUSAT.