A man who was sentenced to death for killing his wife and stepson died before the fatal sentence was carried out. Prison officials say Marcus Jones, Sr., a 65 year old death row inmate from Onslow County, died Sunday.
In 1999, Jones shot his wife, Benita, and his 14-year-old stepson, Marvin Chase Thomas, before turning the 12-gauge shot gun on himself. He's the only one who survived.
The District Attorney's office said Jones died Sunday of natural causes, according to state prison officials.
Jones more recently angered family members of the victims by filing an appeal to his death sentence through the Racial Justice Act.
"He was sentenced on his birthday- on little Marvin's birthday. If it gets changed there ain't been no justice done," said Marvin' grandmother Della Futrell told WITN in December 2011.
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