HOUSTON – A Christmas card written by a convicted baby killer has spurred victims’ rights advocates to call for an investigation. The card was written by Genene Jones, who is accused of killing more than 40 infants during her time as a pediatric nurse in Bexar and Kerr counties.
City of Houston victims’ rights advocate Andy Kahan found the card being sold for $750 on a so-called ‘murderabilia’ website. The recipient of the hand-written card was redacted by the website, but the typed return address is the same for the prison unit where Jones is currently housed. On the card, Jones writes that she appreciates the “kindness” she was shown and that she appreciates the “soft” words.
“Talk about ringing a hollow note,” Kahan said. “Proving once again what a narcisstic psychopath she truly is.”
There is nothing illegal about the card or its sale. However, Kahan said finding that card prompted him to search for other items linked to Jones. Kahan this is the first time he has ever found items linked to the infamous killer put online for sale.
Kahan said a quick search of a different ‘murderabilia’ website turned up an inmate trust-fund form bearing Jones’ name. The form was being sold for $45. These forms are used to transfer money into an inmate’s prison account. Kahan is asking the Texas Department Of Criminal Justice to investigate in what capacity this form was sent out and how it wound up for sale.
“I am hoping that somehow she did violate prison policy,” Kahan said. “It's a long shot, but at this point we have absolutely nothing to lose.”
Kahan’s hope stems from the fact that Jones is scheduled to be released from prison in March 2018. Kahan said if prison officials determine Jones broke prison rules, then it’s possible her time behind bars can be extended.
“Her release date is contingent upon good behavior,” Kahan said.
While Jones has been linked to the deaths of more than 40 babies, she was only convicted of murdering Chelsea McLellan in 1982 and nearly killing Rolando Santos the same year. McLellan was given a lethal dose of muscle relaxants and Santos was given a massive dose of blood thinners.
At the time the investigation into McLellan's death was taking shape, the hospital where Jones worked previously shredded thousands of pounds of records relating to the other children's' deaths. The Bexar County medical examiner's office also told KPRC none of those deaths was reported to that office. This set of circumstances made prosecuting Jones on the other cases extraordinarily difficult.
Jones was sentenced to 99 years in prison for the crimes, but she was sentenced under Texas’ now-defunct 'good time' law. The old law allowed inmates to cut down the time they are required to remain in prison by showing good behavior. The law was abolished in the 1990s, but the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that change could not be applied retroactively to past cases.
If another case is not found, Jones will be released after servicing a third of her sentence.
“Which is basically less than one year for every infant she is credited with killing,” Kahan said. “It's never happened before in the state's history. It's unprecedented.”
TDCJ officials tell KPRC they are investigating whether Jones violated any prison policies. Officials with the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office said they are still working to determine if Jones can be prosecuted for another child’s death.