The suspect accused of killing three members of the same family last week was reportedly experiencing a mental health crisis the day before the tragic event. However, according to the family, he was not allowed to stay at the hospital for treatment.
Rhonda Powell, 40, her 10-year-old son Braylon, and her 1-year-old nephew Hayden were allegedly stabbed to death at a home in Amite, Louisiana, on Thursday, January 9, according to the St. Helena Parish Sheriff’s Department... Continue reading here ▶
While the victims were not named in the initial sheriff’s statement, they have since been identified through a GoFundMe page and news reports, including WAFB.
The suspect, 31-year-old Ryant Jones, was arrested and charged with murder. According to the family, Jones was related to the victims and suffered from schizophrenia. The family claims that he was showing signs of a mental health episode and was taken to a medical center for help the day before the killings.
Powell’s cousin, Deondra Robertson-Warner, explained to WAFB that family members asked the hospital to keep Jones because he was acting aggressively toward his brother.
They felt it was unsafe to send him home. A family member also begged the doctor to give Jones a shot that usually helps in such situations, but the doctor gave him a pill instead and sent him home.
“No one in that home survived because the mental health system failed him,” Robertson-Warner said. “If he had been admitted to the hospital, my family would still be alive today. Those babies would still be here.”
The sheriff’s office has charged Jones with three counts of first-degree murder. Further details about his plea or lawyer were not immediately available.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, you can get help by texting “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
