Incinerate your wife, go to jail

Kristopher Lee "Bo" Jones is guilty of heinous battery and attempted first degree murder in a June 4, 2004 fire that disfigured his wife, Judge James Conway ruled in Mercer County Circuit Court this afternoon

Mr. Jones showed no emotion as Judge Conway delivered the verdict, which comes 10 days after the conclusion of a bench trial.

Sept.7 was set as the date for a hearing on post-trial motions. Sentencing will follow. Mr. Jones faces up to 60 years in prison on each count.

The charges of which Mr. Jones, 34, of 309 2nd Ave., Sherrard, was found guilty sprang from an incident in which he doused his wife, Tanya, with gasoline and then set it ablaze in a remote area of Mercer County. She was treated at a Quad-Cities hospital and later at University Hospitals in Iowa City, where she was treated for burns over 60 percent of her body.

The verdict came despite Mrs. Jones testimony that the fire was set accidentally, a contradiction to what she had earlier told investigators.

And as I reported back when this case first appeared, here's the real kicker.

Mrs. Jones declined comment after the verdict was delivered today.

She said during the trial that she wanted her husband found not guilty and that, "I'd like to have him home with me every day for the rest of my life."

Mr. Jones testified during the trial that he's built a "romantic" campfire the afternoon of the incident and thought that some quiet time would help the two rekindle their troubled relationship.

But the two argued and he "reflexively" splashed gasoline on her, he said. She was smoking and the fire started accidentally, he said.

The use of the word "REKINDLE" is pretty damn funny, for starters, and possibly the writer's intentional attempt at ironic humor. Apparently the flames of love still burn brightly for Mrs. Jones, though it's incredibly pathetic to see a woman so dependent and brainwashed. I'm sure Mr. Jones has been VERY nice to her since he almost roasted her to death. But please.

Then Mr. Jones maintains this was all a "romantic campfire" gone awry, and that he "reflexively" soaked her in gasoline. Hmmmm. A reflex is something you do as a natural reaction to something, such as pulling your hand away from a source of pain. But this guy says that apparently when he argues with someone, the first thing that comes to mind ,without even thinking, is to douse them with gasoline. Wonder why the jury didn't buy it? Isn't that a normal reflex?

I'm only surprised that he didn't explain that prior to the incident, he'd talked to a buddy who, in addition to suggesting the "romantic campfire" to patch things up, said it might be a good idea bring some champagne along and then toast his wife, and it was all just a big misunderstanding.