I watched this case on Crime & Punishment and it affected me deeply. This “father”, Marshall Jones, suffocated his 4 month old son, Wolfgang “Willy” Winfree, because his girlfriend (the baby’s mother) rejected his marriage proposal, so he wanted her and her family to pay. Watch this episode (link below), especially the end at the sentencing. He (the defendant) spews much hatred and tries to justify what he did 
(says it was an accident, “but that is another story” is what he says) and puts the blame on her and her family for everything. However, the Judge, Frederic L. Link, was excellent. His words before pronouncing the sentence were excellent and insightful. This defendant has absolutely no remorse and seemed proud of his actions. He wanted to inflict pain and in that, he succeeded. But he will now pay with the rest of his life. And I hope that every day he spends in prison is painful to him as well.
Infant’s Body Found In Shallow Grave Near Santee
Father Denies Suffocating 4-Month-Old Son To Death
Spurned Fiance Convicted Of Baby’s Murder
Marshall Jones appeal
Movies/Documentaries
Crime & Punishment: People Vs. Jones
Filed under: crime, murder, murder in the 21st Century Tagged: | 2000, child murder, Family/Domestic Violence, fathers who kill, Marshall Jones, suffocation, Wolfgang "Willy" Winfree
They always try to put the blame on someone else for their evil actions….just another person who is selfish and evil.
Marshall Jones is my cousin. We grew up separated but five hundred miles and when I was young our family would pile into the station wagon over summer and make the nine hour trek to San Diego to ‘see the family’. We would play together, my older cousins, Marshall and his brother, it was such a delight to have built in playmates so far from home. Their father, whom Marshall was named after, was my favorite uncle- a kind man who could make anybody laugh. Who knows what happen in that family dynamic, our parents had a disagreement that kept us apart for over fifteen years but out of the blue, as adults we all came together, the cousins, for one of our weddings. We had a good time that day, sitting together in a clearing of a mountain valley- talking and catching up the years left behind under the cover of expansive oak trees. I distinctly remember being seated next to Marshall and chatting with him for hours. He spoke of how he had found God, and telling me that even though his life had some twists and turns he was so happy to be on right path. He talked about his newborn son and how proud he was, that this was chance to do right. That was only a few months before the incident. I was working that night when I got the call from my sister- what an incredible shock. What do you do with that type of information?! How do you reconcile that? And then to find out this person you once adored is the subject of a nationally broadcast crime drama? Something used for ratings?!! A money maker. Nauseating.
We all watch separately the night it aired. It was too painful to even watch alone. I wept for the entire hour as I saw my cousins, my fathers sister and my uncle Marshall who, at the time was dying of cancer, sit behind Marshall Jr. in the courtroom, stoic, obviously conflicted because the man who perpetrated this horrible act was still their son and brother. I was enraged when the verdict came down. It’s not that I didn’t believe he did it, that was apparent. But even in the edited version for t.v. you could plainly see how emotionally disturbed my cousin was. On a personal note, I remember hearing whispers from my parents about Marshall in particular, his mental health and some of the challenges he had in his youth. Although saddened, I was not surprised he was capable of such terrible things. He is my blood. I have fond memories of my summer time childhood companion, NONE of which have anything to do with the man who murdered his own child. The bottom line is Marshall Jones Jr. was discarded by our court system as a cold blooded killer when in fact he is a deeply disturbed individual who was denied the opportunity to heal and possibly help others in similar situations give back to our society. Those are not the acts of someone who is ‘selfish and evil’ but of one who is mental, and quite possibly, chemically imbalanced. He is still a human being, as we ALL are.
Annette,
But what about the victim? You say that your cousin, the killer, was discarded by the system, but didn’t you just discard the victim? Not once did you mention Wolfgang Winfree at all. No sympathy for the victim and his loved ones. And I watched that show and it was not obvious that he is or was mentally ill at all. I remember him being cold and remorseless. He was angry that Jamie decided not to marry him. He kidnapped his own child and suffocated him. And then buried him. It was not impulsive, he planned it. He even said that it was going to make the news. What should the verdict have been? Not guilty? I don’t think so. You must be referring to an insanity verdict, but there was nothing to support that.
He is a cold blooded killer. But maybe since you are family you don’t want to believe that. It does not matter that he was not given time to heal. What about Willy? What about Jamie? The victim is the one who matters. This was justice for him. I am sorry that you do not care about this 4-month-old infant, Willy. Sad, as Willy would have been one of your relatives as well. But you never even mentioned him.
And after watching it again, I noticed none of his family members stood up for him in court, nor were there any mental health testimony. And when Marshall talked during his sentencing, all he could do is blame everyone else, especially Jamie’s family. Not once did he take any responsibility for his actions. In fact, he even said it was the right thing to do. The murder of a child is the right thing to do? And he meant it – no remorse there. And I am thrilled that the Judge said what he said. It was perfect.
I just watched this episode on baby Wolfgang’s murder. I wish I had watched this show when it first aired. I believe I didn’t find interest in it because it was not going to be similar to the other Law & Order shows. Since then, crime reality shows are a big interest to me. I delve into watching how our system works from other shows. Today, Dec.5, 2011, I decided to watch this show because it was a recommendation due to my other interests.
This episode reminded me of the fiasco case of the death of Caylee Anthony by her mother. It’s very sad that people (especially the parent) are capable of taking the life of the most innocent and precious thing given to this life. I saw the hatred that disgusting human being had on his face during the trial. The way he looked at the mother of his child, made me think he wasn’t finished. If he had been acquitted, I believe he would have tried to kill her. He blames her and her father for what HE did. He was glad to inflict this type of pain on them. It was said that he was going to do something that would cause them great pain as an act of revenge.
If he had a mental problem, why didn’t his lawyer bring in expert witness testimony to prove this? Why wasn’t he tested? why wasn’t it a part of his defense? Why? It’s just like the judge said and I quote, “you’re a punk”–
simple as that. I wish the families on both sides well. I know this didn’t happen recently, but I also know that pain and suffering from something like this, does not go away quickly. It takes time. You will never be okay with it, but somehow through God’s will, mercy and grace–it will get better. May the sweet communion of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ bring you peace. God bless you all. R.I.P. baby Wolfgang.
There is one point when his coworker is testifying where he actually sheds a tear. It threw me off because there was no emotion but boredom when the prosecution timed the 45 seconds it would take for Wolfie to die. I am sure this was not an easy case for the jurors but they see what most people see: A man who is not concerned with the baby he helped create, only tormenting the young, nieve girl he loved to control. He is a useless human being with no conscience. I hope Benjamie is living a happy and fulfilled life and I sincerely hope the mere thought of that torments Marshall until his death in a California correctional facility.