Man sentenced to 13 life sentences for murder of Chesterfield mother, 3 children
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Jonah Adams, a Maryland man found guilty of the 2022 murders of a Chesterfield County woman and her three children -- including his own 4-year-old twins-- was sentenced to 13 life sentences plus 18 years in prison on Tuesday. On Nov. 18, 2022, Adams broke into the home of 39-year-old JoAnna M. Cottle in the 4200 block of Laurel Oak Road. After forcing himself inside, he shot four people: JoAnna Cottle, 13-year-old Kaelyn M. Parson and 4-year-old twins Kinsey M. Cottle and Jayson L. Cottle. All four died at the scene. JoAnna Cottle was Adams' ex-girlfriend and he was the father of both Kinsey and Jayson. A domestic assault report and an inactive protective order against Adams from 2018 contributed to the Chesterfield County Police Department identifying him as the suspect. PREVIOUS: Community gathers for funeral of mother, three children shot to death in their Chesterfield home On Tuesday, Dec. 17, Adams received the sentence previously recommended by the jury at his August trial, according to court records. This came after a two-day trial in the Chesterfield County Circuit Court, during which detectives, experts and others shared painful testimony. JoAnna Cottle and her children -- 13-year-old Kaelyn and 4-year-old twins Jayson and Kinsey -- who were all murdered by Jonah Adams in their Chesterfield County home in 2022. (Photo provided to 8News by loved ones.) His 17 felony charges and each of their respective sentences are as follows: One count of aggravated murder of multiple persons, one life sentence Three counts of aggravated murder of person under 14 by a person 21 or over, one life sentence each Four counts of first-degree murder, one life sentence each Four counts of using a sawed-off gun to commit a crime, one life sentence each One count of armed burglary, entering house to murder, one life sentence One count of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, first offense, 3 years Three counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, subsequent offenses, 5 years each PREVIOUS: ‘Those are the worst scenes, involving kids’: Mass shooting suspect arrested, victims identified in Chesterfield County 8News reached out to the Chesterfield County Commonwealth Attorney's Office for a statement on this sentencing.
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CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Jonah Adams, a Maryland man found guilty of the 2022 murders of a Chesterfield County woman and her three children -- including his own 4-year-old twins-- was sentenced to 13 life sentences plus 18 years in prison on Tuesday.
On Nov. 18, 2022, Adams broke into the home of 39-year-old JoAnna M. Cottle in the 4200 block of Laurel Oak Road. After forcing himself inside, he shot four people: JoAnna Cottle, 13-year-old Kaelyn M. Parson and 4-year-old twins Kinsey M. Cottle and Jayson L. Cottle. All four died at the scene.
JoAnna Cottle was Adams' ex-girlfriend and he was the father of both Kinsey and Jayson. A domestic assault report and an inactive protective order against Adams from 2018 contributed to the Chesterfield County Police Department identifying him as the suspect.
On Tuesday, Dec. 17, Adams received the sentence previously recommended by the jury at his August trial, according to court records. This came after a two-day trial in the Chesterfield County Circuit Court, during which detectives, experts and others shared painful testimony.
JoAnna Cottle and her children -- 13-year-old Kaelyn and 4-year-old twins Jayson and Kinsey -- who were all murdered by Jonah Adams in their Chesterfield County home in 2022. (Photo provided to 8News by loved ones.)
His 17 felony charges and each of their respective sentences are as follows:
- One count of aggravated murder of multiple persons, one life sentence
- Three counts of aggravated murder of person under 14 by a person 21 or over, one life sentence each
- Four counts of first-degree murder, one life sentence each
- Four counts of using a sawed-off gun to commit a crime, one life sentence each
- One count of armed burglary, entering house to murder, one life sentence
- One count of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, first offense, 3 years
- Three counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, subsequent offenses, 5 years each
8News reached out to the Chesterfield County Commonwealth Attorney's Office for a statement on this sentencing.
