Case of man charged in child’s death going to grand jury

The case of a Smiths Station man charged with capital murder in the death of a 14-month-old boy will go to a Lee County grand jury, a judge ruled Tuesday.

Kenneth Gerald Jones Jr., 24, went before District Judge Russell K. Bush for a preliminary hearing Tuesday to determine whether enough evidence existed to present the case to a grand jury.

Jones is accused of killing his girlfriend’s child March 24 at the home they shared on Lee Road 240.

In her testimony Tuesday, Whitney Marie Barfield said she left for work that morning, leaving her son, Gabriel James Barfield, in the care of Jones.

Jones called her a few hours later, saying the baby was acting strangely and asking her to come home, she testified. Some time later, Barfield arrived home to find ambulances and police cars at the house.

The boy was transported to Jack Hughston Memorial Hospital in Phenix City, where he was pronounced dead, sheriff’s officials have said.

Barfield testified she never saw Jones use extreme force with either her son or his own biological children.

Dr. Stephen F. Boudreau, senior state medical examiner, testified the infant died from blunt force trauma to the head. Impact marks on the sides, front and back of his head “appear to be from multiple blows,” Boudreau said. Tests showed no sign of old injuries, he said.

“A child’s a very flexible thing,” Boudreau said. “This is not falling out of a high chair. This is a very forceful (impact).”

Defense attorney William Whatley said the boy’s death was not intentional and asked Bush to set a bond amount. Although state law prohibits bond for capital murder defendants, courts have ruled on exceptions, he said. District Attorney Nick Abbett said he strongly opposed bond.

Bush asked both to file motions regarding bond and said he would rule once he read them.

The next grand jury session starts May 4. The grand jury will decide whether there is enough evidence to bring the case to a jury trial.