The Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Family members and neighbors held a daylong vigil to mourn the loss of three people who were killed over the weekend, while advocates against domestic violence wondered whether the system could have better protected the victims.
Bryant Jones, 31, is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, Casandra Current. She was stabbed 51 times on Friday at her north Minneapolis home. Her mother, 44-year-old Renee Brown, and her stepgrandfather, 62-year-old Wayne Huotari, also were killed.
Jones was arrested early Saturday. Police had already been looking for him after Current had accused him of kidnapping and rape.
Minneapolis police Chief Bill McManus said this is the worst domestic violence case in the city in several years, but “on paper” the system appeared to help Current after she reported that Jones had raped her.
McManus asked acting Deputy Chief Val Wurster to set up a committee to look at whether the department could have done anything different to prevent the triple homicide.
Jones has a lengthy criminal history. After burglarizing his previous ex-girlfriend’s house and violating a restraining order in October 2002, Hennepin County prosecutors wanted Jones to be sentenced to almost four years in prison.
Jones’ attorney said that he was succeeding with treatment for heroin addiction and was looking for a job.
Last October, District Judge Katherian Roe sentenced him to a year in the workhouse. He served six months and was released in April.
If the longer sentence had been imposed, Jones would still be locked up, officials said.
But shortly after Jones completed his workhouse sentence in April, he moved into Current’s home, according to court documents.
On Sept. 1, Jones came home unexpectedly and accused Current of cheating on him. He punched her in the face, attempted to choke her and threatened to kill her, but she ran into the street wearing only pants, the charges said.
She called 911 from a passerby’s cell phone.
The next morning, Jones forced his way into Current’s home armed with a razor blade and raped her, documents said. He forced her to drive to his job at First Site Staffing in Fridley to get his check, but once inside she told employees that Jones had kidnapped her. They locked the doors and called police.
Fridley police Officer Grant Merseth arrived and told Jones to lie on the ground in the parking lot. When Jones ignored him, Merseth sprayed a chemical irritant in his face, but Jones fled.
Fridley police chased him briefly, but stopped because under department pursuit rules the public risks of a chase weren’t worth trying to arrest someone in what was reported as a domestic incident, Capt. Robert Rewitzer said Monday.
Charges were filed in the rape case on Sept. 3, and a warrant was issued for Jones’ arrest.
After Labor Day, Minneapolis police distributed fliers and pictures of Jones and did searches to get evidence in the rape case. The department’s violent criminal apprehension team also went out and started combing the streets, said Sgt. Bernie Martinson.
Police discussed safety issues with Current and helped her find a safe place to stay where Jones couldn’t find her, said Capt. Rich Stanek.
An officer with the apprehension team received a call at home about midnight Friday from somebody who had been in contact with Jones, Stanek said. Shortly afterward, the officer learned about the triple homicide.
Lt. Mike Carlson, head of the homicide unit, said police made every attempt within reason to find Jones. After the homicides, police were allowed to track Jones through electronic means.
Jones was charged with five counts of first-degree murder, three of the counts include premeditation. Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar said the county’s domestic fatality review board will look at the deaths and see what could have been done differently.
“Otherwise we never get positive change,” she said.