Heather Jones, 30, Kansas City, Kan., today pleaded guilty in Wyandotte County District Court to one count of first-degree murder in connection with the death of a 7-year-old boy.
Jones, the stepmother of the boy, also pleaded guilty to two counts of abuse of a child.
The remains of A.J., who was 7 years old, were found in a barn on the property of a residence in the 5200 block of North 99th Street in Kansas City, Kan.
When police were called to a domestic disturbance at the residence on Nov. 25, 2015, they received information that A.J., a 7-year-old, had died. The next day, police found remains of a child in a barn on the property, according to the district attorney’s office.
A forensics examination revealed that the remains were those of A.J., and further investigation revealed a history of chronic confinement and abuse of A.J.
Wyandotte County District Judge Michael Grosko accepted Jones’ plea and sentencing was set for 10 a.m. Nov. 14 in Division 5 of the district court.
A hearing for codefendant Michael Jones was held this afternoon. A.J. was the son of Michael Jones. Michael Jones’ motion for a new attorney was heard and denied by Judge Grosko. The trial for his case was set for Feb. 6, 2017, and a pretrial conference originally scheduled for Oct. 7 was canceled.