Altered Population is an investigation into filicide in South Carolina hosted by Jennifer Wells. In today’s episode, Jennifer explains in more detail what the first few days of the Timothy Jones Jr. trial were like. Jennifer and her daughter Mallory attended the trial together as members of the press, became familiar with the key figures of the case, and watched as the jury began to take shape. Jennifer connected with the other members of the press and learned how South Carolina was proposing a bill to allow for the death penalty to be executed by firing squad as an alternative to the lethal injection (a drug that is no longer produced). Jennifer also reflected upon Amber Jones and Tim Jones, Sr., how they might think of being parents, and what they remember of their children.

Jennifer begins by filling in some holes left by the last episode with Mallory, who was her partner and moral support through the beginning of the trial. After being informed by Mr. Bender of a conversation with a colleague who was in proceedings to seal the trial, Jennifer found a small news article that stated 200 citizens would be called as potential jurors to the old Lexington County Courthouse. The article also stated that there would be public seating, but the courthouse would be packed, so Jennifer made sure her and Mallory were the first to arrive in the morning. Even though Jennifer wanted to blend into the crowd, she was greeted by Red, the Bailiff, and recognized Lisa Comer and her partner right away.

As the players in the courthouse and the jurors began to trickle in and get set up, Jennifer became excited. Everyone knew what happened to those five children and who did it; she couldn’t believe that anyone would buy the insanity defense. Solicitor Rick Hubbard was the lead prosecutor for the state, with a striking resemblance to Hugh Laurie, and his deputy prosecutors were Suzanne Mays and Sean Graham. The defense was made up of four attorneys: Robert Madsen is the 11th circuit public defender, Boyd Young and Bill MacGuire are with the South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense, and Casey Secor is with the Sue Serone Capital Defense. Jennifer spoke to reporters seated with her, discussing interests and sharing about podcasting, but she was happy that she still maintained a sense of anonymity. Judge Eugene Griffith, who reminded Jennifer very much of President Clinton, and his transcriptionist, Joy, then entered. He was smooth, protective of Joy, and had a real presence about him.

The questioning began to qualify jurors and place them into panels of eight, to be scheduled throughout the coming days in the new courthouse. They planned for three panels a day to get through more intense questioning, but that timing didn’t happen. There were a total of 22 panels, and jurors would call in each day to see when their panel was scheduled to appear. After that jurors were dismissed. Jennifer and Mallory moved to the first pew to get closer to the key figures and listen in. Jennifer wondered what the defense, prosecution and judge thought of her and Mallory remaining at the courthouse, and so she buried her head in her notebook and furiously took notes. They talked about the three types of jurors, the most recent death penalty case, and the defense asked for a change of venue. After returning to the hotel room, Jennifer stayed up late to review her notes, do some research, and look further into the proposed bill that a firing squad be used in light of a lethal injection drug shortage. In South Carolina, prisoners can choose between lethal injection and the electric chair, but there has been a shortage of the lethal injection drug since 2013 when manufacturers stopped producing it.

The next morning, Jennifer and Mallory drove to the new courthouse and were ushered into the middle row of the gallery, which was reserved for members of the press. At 9:42 AM, a very pale Tim Jones entered the courtroom right in front of where Jennifer was seate