REMEMBERING ADRIAN

Adrian Jones was seven years old when he died. To many people who later learned his story, he became known simply as A.J. But Adrian was a little boy long before his name appeared in court documents, news reports and child welfare investigations. He loved superheroes, especially Spider Man. He loved chicken nuggets. People who came together after his death to honor him remembered those wonderfully ordinary details because they belonged to Adrian, not to the adults who hurt him. His grandmother, Judy Conway, remembered him as a sweet little boy and spoke about the enormous privilege she felt in being his grandmother. Adrian's mother, Dainna Pearce, and his siblings were among the family members left to grieve him. Adrian should have been allowed to spend his childhood pretending to be superheroes. Instead, during the final years of his life, he repeatedly tried to tell adults that he was being hurt. He was seven years old when the abuse finally killed him.

ADRIAN’S STORY

Adrian lived with his father, Michael Jones, and his stepmother, Heather Jones. Long before Adrian's death, there were indications that he was being physically abused.

In December 2011, Kansas child welfare records documented an investigation involving the family. A police officer observed that Adrian had a black eye and bruising on his face. A social worker believed Heather was responsible for his injuries, and Michael signed a safety plan under which Heather was not supposed to have contact with the children temporarily. The family later lived in Missouri. In 2013, five year old Adrian spoke directly to a Missouri child welfare worker. He said his father kicked him, hit him in the head and punched him in the stomach. He also described Heather hurting him and said he was routinely locked in his room without a pillow or blanket.

Adrian was not hinting that something might be wrong. He was telling adults that he was being abused. Records indicate Missouri officials concluded that they could not ensure Adrian's safety in the home, but the family was ultimately provided additional services rather than Adrian being permanently removed. The family moved again. In October 2013, Kansas authorities received another report involving Adrian. The caller reported concerns about his supervision and said he had been eating from the trash. A Kansas social worker contacted Michael and Heather and then forwarded information to Missouri because the family had been living there.  Adrian remained with his father and stepmother. Over time, the abuse became increasingly severe. Investigators later recovered photographs, videos and other evidence documenting what Adrian endured inside the home. He was restrained in multiple ways, including being strapped to a mattress and an inversion table. He was handcuffed and bound. Investigative records described the use of an electronic shock device and other forms of punishment and restraint. Eventually, Adrian was confined naked inside a shower stall. A piece of plywood was used to prevent him from escaping. He was deprived of adequate food and became severely emaciated. Photographs and surveillance footage documented his physical deterioration. One of the other children later remembered hearing Adrian crying through a vent that he was going to die. He was right.  On September 28, 2015, Adrian died. He was seven years old. His family later used that date for his funeral and memorial records. But no one reported Adrian's death to authorities. Instead, his disappearance was concealed. Investigators later learned that Adrian's remains had been disposed of using pigs kept on the family's property. His father admitted that Adrian's body remained inside the home for a period before pigs were obtained.  For approximately two months, the outside world did not know Adrian was dead. Then, on November 25, 2015, police responded to the Jones home after a domestic violence incident between Michael and Heather. Heather reported that Michael had assaulted and choked her and fired a gun nearby. During the investigation, police learned something far more disturbing. Heather disclosed that Michael's seven year old son, Adrian, was dead and that his body had been fed to pigs. Police searched the property. Human remains were recovered from the barn and pig enclosure. Forensic examination identified them as Adrian's.  The investigation that followed finally revealed the extent of the abuse Adrian had endured. Prosecutors said he had been physically and emotionally abused, confined and essentially starved to death.

SYSTEM FAILURES & WARNING SIGNS

Adrian's death became one of the clearest examples of why seeing and speaking directly with a child can be essential during an abuse investigation. There had been warning signs for years. In 2011, Adrian had visible facial injuries. Kansas authorities investigated. A safety plan was created. Adrian remained with his father. Then Adrian himself began speaking. In 2013, he told a Missouri child welfare worker that his father kicked him, hit him in the head and punched him in the stomach. He said Heather hurt him. He said he was locked in his room. Records show Missouri child welfare officials had repeated contact with the Jones family.  The concern was serious enough that officials documented that they could not ensure Adrian's safety in the home. Still, Adrian remained there.  The family moved between Kansas and Missouri, complicating oversight across state lines. Kansas authorities received another report in October 2013 concerning Adrian's supervision and his eating from garbage. The matter was referred back toward Missouri because of where the family had been living.  Years later, Adrian's family sued Kansas and child welfare officials, alleging that authorities had failed to protect him despite the history of abuse reports. In 2024, Kansas approved a $1 million settlement with Adrian's family. The settlement did not require the state to admit legal liability, but Adrian's death had already become a major catalyst for changes to the state's child protection system.  One of those changes bears his name. In 2021, Kansas enacted provisions known as Adrian's Law. The law strengthened requirements concerning the visual observation of children who are alleged victims of abuse or neglect. Kansas continues to conduct special child protection reviews specifically measuring compliance with Adrian's Law.  Adrian had tried to make adults see what was happening to him. Years after his death, Kansas law would carry his name in an effort to make it harder for another endangered child to remain unseen.

JUSTICE FOR ADRIAN

Heather Jones was charged in connection with Adrian's death and abuse. In October 2016, she pleaded guilty to first degree murder and two counts of child abuse. She was sentenced to life imprisonment with no possibility of parole for twenty five years for Adrian's murder. She also received an additional prison sentence for the child abuse convictions. 

 

Heather JonesRelationship to Adrian: Stepmother

Conviction(s): First degree murder; Two counts of child abuse

Sentence: Life imprisonment with parole eligibility after 25 years, plus an additional prison sentence for child abuse

 

Michael Jones was also prosecuted for killing his son. In March 2017, Michael pleaded guilty to first degree murder.  He was sentenced to life imprisonment. Like Heather, he must serve at least twenty five years before becoming eligible for parole. 

 

Michael Jones

Relationship to Adrian: Father

Conviction(s): First degree murder

Sentence: Life imprisonment with parole eligibility after 25 years

FOREVER REMEMBERED

There is no way to tell Adrian's story truthfully without describing what happened to him. But what happened to Adrian is not who Adrian was. He was seven. He loved Spider-Man and superheroes. He loved chicken nuggets.  He had a mother, siblings and a grandmother who continued speaking his name after his death. His family eventually held a memorial service for him in October 2017, more than two years after he died. His obituary called him their little superhero and remembered the strength and courage he showed during his short life.  Adrian should never have needed that kind of strength. A seven year old should not have needed to repeatedly explain that adults were hurting him. He should not have needed to survive restraints, hunger and isolation. He should not have needed someone to rescue him from his own home. He should simply have been allowed to be Adrian. A little boy who liked superheroes. There is a painful irony in that. Adrian spent part of his childhood admiring imaginary heroes while desperately needing real adults to become heroes for him. Too many failed. But his voice did not disappear with him. His name became attached to a law intended to require authorities investigating abuse to actually see the children they are charged with protecting. Adrian's legacy should never have needed to include legislation. His legacy should have been birthdays, school, friendships and adulthood. Those years were stolen from him. His name was not. Adrian Jones was here. He was loved. He spoke. He deserved to be heard. Abuse Angels remembers Adrian Jones. Remembered. Honored. Never Forgotten.