Bio

Reco G. Jones was born on February 9, 1975. Jones and Bellamy began dating in December 1996. Their relationship continued while Jones served a six-month prison term beginning in January 1997 for an aggravated assault case unrelated to the later murders. While he was incarcerated, Jones and Bellamy stayed in contact through phone calls, but their relationship became strained. Jones reportedly accused Bellamy of being unfaithful, and after his release, the relationship remained unstable.

By the summer of 1997, Jones was also involved with other women, including Maliaka Martin, who later became a key witness in the case. Bellamy and Martin were described during trial as romantic rivals. On August 11, 1997, Bellamy ended her relationship with Jones. Prosecutors later said Bellamy told Jones she was pregnant and planned to have an abortion, although she was not actually pregnant.

Murder Story

On August 13, 1997, Reco G. Jones went to the Detroit home of his former girlfriend, Yolanda Bellamy, age 24. Also inside the home were four children: Bellamy’s sons, Nathan Burns Jr., age 5, and Nathan Burns III, age 3; and her niece and nephew, Shafontah Bellamy, age 3, and Delvontay Bellamy, age 5.

Prosecutors argued that Jones killed Bellamy after she ended their relationship and told him she would not have his child. Bellamy was stabbed 11 times. The four children were also stabbed and slashed to death. Medical testimony stated that Shafontah Bellamy suffered numerous additional puncture wounds, which prosecutors described as torture wounds.

Later that morning, Bellamy’s sister, Ericka Bellamy, went to the home after no one answered the phone. Her children, Shafontah and Delvontay, had stayed overnight with Yolanda. When Ericka looked through the mail slot, she saw one of her children lying in blood. Police entered the home and found all five victims dead. Jones was arrested later that day. The next day, while in police custody, he jumped from a fifth-floor interrogation room window. He survived but suffered injuries, including a fractured elbow and abdominal injuries.

At trial, prosecutors presented testimony from witnesses who said Jones admitted involvement after the killings. Maliaka Martin testified that Jones came to her home with blood on him and admitted killing Bellamy and the children. Another witness, Tamika Terrell, testified that Jones asked for help disposing of bloody clothing. Forensic testimony also linked Jones to the scene, including DNA evidence from blood found near the kitchen sink.

Jones’ defense argued that police arrested the wrong person and suggested that Martin may have committed the murders. Jones testified and blamed Martin, but during cross-examination, he made contradictory statements and referred to a “script,” which prosecutors used to challenge his credibility.

On March 30, 1998, Jones was convicted of five counts of first-degree murder. On April 21, 1998, Wayne County Circuit Judge Kym Worthy sentenced him to five life terms in prison. The Michigan Court of Appeals later affirmed his convictions and sentence.