‘I know he’s innocent’: Julius Jones’ mom details life 4 years after her son’s execution was stopped
By Meghan Mosley
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Oklahoma (KOCO) — It has been exactly four years since Julius Jones was set to be executed by the state of Oklahoma.
His case made national headlines, and it is one many Oklahomans remember. But for his family, this case has defined their lives for more than 20 years.
“You’ve kept faith this whole time. Talk to me about that,” KOCO’s Meghan Mosley said to Julius’ mother, Madeline Davis-Jones.
“That’s all I have. All you need is a little bit of faith,” Davis-Jones said.
Faith is what has gotten the mother through the last two decades.
“Three days after he had just turned 19, all of this happened,” Davis-Jones said.
It was July 1999, when businessman Paul Howell was shot and killed in front of his family in Edmond.
“It happened so fast, and you’re just in this situation where you’re just thinking… run,” Rachel Howell, Paul Howell’s daughter, said in 2021.
Julius was charged for the crime and was later sentenced to death for Paul Howell’s murder.
“Julius Jones murdered Paul Howell in cold blood in front of his sister and daughter,” former Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter said in 2020.
Julius’ life, and his mother’s life, changed in that moment.
“It could just take a few minutes, and your life can be turned upside down,” Davis-Jones said.
While her life changed, the case took off. It drew national attention due to another person admitting to the murder and various claims of racial bias.
A-list celebrities even took up the case.
Meanwhile, a mother was still doing everything she could to keep her son alive.
“My faith and the people I’m surrounded by keeps me a lot. It gives me strength,” Davis-Jones said.
Nov. 18, 2021, was the day he would have been put to death.
“Walk me through Nov. 18. That day,” Meghan Mosley said.
“Oh gosh, you would do that to me. Nov. 18, well the night before, can I go back a little bit?” Davis-Jones said. “When we made it home that evening, I just had to give it to the Lord. I said You gave me this child, and I’m going to have to give him back to You. I said because I did all I could do. I know he’s innocent, and I don’t believe that You would give me something and take it away like that, and I just had to trust Him.”
But in the hours before Julius was set to die, Gov. Kevin Stitt spared his life, commuting his sentence to life without the possibility of parole.
“Next thing I know, when they told me that the governor had stopped the execution, I don’t know how to tell you how I felt. You know, how you feel a sigh of relief, and it’s like something has been taken from you but given back to you,” Davis-Jones said. “I was happy but then sad because he’s still not coming home.”
The Jones family said their fight is still not over.
“You were hesitant when you said justice for Julius. Do you think he got justice?” Meghan Mosley asked.
“I don’t feel he got justice. It’s I song a listen to. It’s good to be alive, but it’s best to live. And I don’t feel like that he’s gotten justice. He’s gotten a chance to someday have true justice,” Davis-Jones said.
His attorneys are still pushing to get him out.
“Why are you guys still fighting for him to get out?” Meghan Mosley asked.
“We’re fighting for him, because we know that he’s innocent,” Davis-Jones said.
But in the meantime, Julius remains optimistic about life.
“I think it’s amazing how he’s incarcerated, but he still has this vision, this gift, and God has brought out a lot of gifts in him,” Davis-Jones said. “The last time I was able to see him, he was beginning to get gray, but I told him he’s joining in the club now. It’s just a lot of things, but I try to look at the positive things.”
His mother also remains hopeful for the future.
“I have a good feeling, if they really do the right thing and put all the pieces together, I know he’s coming on home,” Davis-Jones said.
KOCO reached out to the family of Paul Howell. His daughter, Rachel, said that their family continues to live every day with the reality that her father was murdered, and their lives were permanently changed.
While others mark the date as an anniversary of clemency, for the Howell family, it’s a reminder of the life that was taken and the pain they still carry.
This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting.
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