trial

Man accused of killing 6 kids in family massacre won't face death in Harris County

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Monday, October 4, 2021
ABC13 was the only Houston TV station inside the court room at NRG Arena for the start of jury selection in David Conley's trial. Conley is accused of killing eight members of a family, including six children, back in 2015.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The state of Texas won't pursue the death penalty against a man accused of killing eight people, including six children, back in 2015.

Authorities said David Conley is responsible for the deaths of the six children, as well as their mother, Valerie Jackson, and her husband, Dwayne Jackson. Their deaths were described as a pre-planned mass killing.

The deceased children were identified as Nathaniel, 13; Honesty, 11; Dwayne Jr., 10; Caleb, 9; Trinity, 7; and Jonah, 6. The victims were found in each of the three bedrooms inside their house.

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Eyewitness News learned of a development in court Monday as jury selection started in Conley's trial.

If convicted of capital murder, he'll be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Conley sat at the table in a black suit and listened intently to lawyers.

Deputies accused him of breaking into Valerie and Dwayne Jackson's home on Aug. 8, 2015. They said he handcuffed the couple and the six kids before shooting them one-by-one. Valerie was reportedly the last to die.

The death penalty is now off the table because of Conley's intellectual capabilities.

The trial is slated to start Tuesday and expected to finish by the end of the week.

PHOTOS: The victims who died in the Aug. 8, 2015, mass murders
Nathaniel Conley and Honesty Jacksonnone
Dwayne Clifford Jacksonnone
Trinity Jackson and Jonah Jacksonnone
Caleb Jacksonnone
David Conley is charged with three counts of capital murdernone
Dwayne Jackson, 50, was shot and killed over the weekend along with his wife and their children.none
All six children in the home were shot and killed over the weekend.none
Dwayne Jackson, 50, was shot and killed over the weekend along with his wife and their children.none
Friends and neighbors are trying to deal with the murder of 8 people in their communitynone
A make-shift memorial has been set up outside the home where the tragedy took placenone
Friends and neighbors are trying to deal with the murder of 8 people in their communitynone
David Conley, 48, was charged with capital murder in the deaths.none
Valerie Jackson had a previous relationship with the suspect, David Conley, police say.none
David Conley, 49, in an image from April 8, 2013.KTRK
Scenes from outside a home in northwest Harris County, where eight people were found deadnone
Scenes from outside a home in northwest Harris County, where eight people were found deadnone
Scenes from outside a home in northwest Harris County, where eight people were found deadnone
Scenes from outside a home in northwest Harris County, where eight people were found deadnone
A member of the Harris County Sheriff's Department raises the crime scene tape at the scene of the deathsnone
Harris County Sheriff's Department Sgt. D.J. Hilborn, left, escorts a family back to their homenone
Members of the Harris County Sheriff's department work outside the scene of the shooting.none
Harris County Sheriff's Department Sgt. D.J. Hilborn, right, walks away from the scenenone
Eight people were found dead inside a NW Harris Co. home following a SWAT standoffnone
Eight people were found dead inside a NW Harris Co. home following a SWAT standoffnone
Eight people were found dead inside a NW Harris Co. home following a SWAT standoffnone
Eight people were found dead inside a NW Harris Co. home following a SWAT standoffnone
Eight people were found dead inside a NW Harris Co. home following a SWAT standoffnone
Eight people were found dead inside a NW Harris Co. home following a SWAT standoffnone
Eight people were found dead inside a NW Harris Co. home following a SWAT standoffnone


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