Episode 45: America’s Youngest Convicted Murderers - Catherine and Curtis Jones
“Sir, there was no reason to do it. I may have thought at the time that it was, but there was no reason to take another person’s life.”
On January 6th, 1999, in Port St John, Florida, the body of 29-year-old Sonya Nicole Speights was discovered lying in a blood-drenched tub. Investigators were initially informed that it was the sight of an accidental shooting, but the evidence indicated something far more suspicious. This is the tragic case of brother and sister Catherine and Curtis Jones, who, at the time when these events unfolded, became the youngest convicted murderers in U.S. history..
Content Warnings: Homicide, Child Abuse, Sexual Assault
Key Themes: Child Offenders, Juvenile Justice, Juvenile Waivers, Florida Department of Corrections, The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth
Resources:
If you, or someone you know, has been a victim of sexual abuse, domestic violence, or is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please contact:
988lifeline.org call or text 988
Rainn.org 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Research for Episode 45 includes:
Course Material: Race, Ethnicity, and Crime
America's Youngest Convicted Murderers Are Being Released
Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth
Documents unveil history of abuse for young killers | 11alive.com
Juvenile Transfer to Criminal Court
Racial disparities in Florida’s criminal justice system are shameful
The Impact of Waiver to Adult Court on Youths’ Perceptions of Procedural Justice - PMC