Accused killer walks out of court before jury delivers verdict

DETROIT - It's been more than three years since John Ortiz, Jr. lost his father to a reckless driver. The day he and his family thought they would see justice and closure walked out of the courtroom.

"I couldn't see how they could just let him walk out of the courthouse when he was on the case for killing somebody," said Ortiz, victim's son.

Thabo Jones was on trial for killing John Ortiz, Sr. Jones was driving nearly 100 miles an  hour on Livernois when he hit the car the victim  was driving.

"He rear ended him and sent him into a parked van which killed him," said Ortiz.

Jones' lawyers say he was depressed  about how the trial was going. The prosecutor went full throttle when he took  the stand on August 26th. When the court took a lunch break, Jones disappeared before the jury came back with a verdict.

"I was man enough to sit next to him for three and half years in court without looking at him wrong or saying anything to him. No gestures, nothing, and he can't be man enough to hear a verdict," said Ortiz.

Thabo Jones is still missing. Ortiz's family is still grieving their loss that was heightened by Jones prolonging justice and the fact their father will never meet the family's new addition.

"That's all he ever talked about was to have his grandchildren and now he's not here. So we want him to face the facts, come forward and turn himself in. We lost someone dear to us and it hurts us to this day," said Angela Jackson, victim's daughter.

There is a warrant out for Jones' arrest. If you know where he is, call police.