‘DATELINE NBC’ EXCLUSIVE: EX-WIFE OF ARIZONA KILLER SPEAKS OUT IN FIRST TV INTERVIEW

June 27, 2018 – In her first sit-down interview on national television since her ex-husband, Dwight Jones, killed six people in Arizona between May 31 and June 4th, Connie Jones tells NBC News’ Josh Mankiewicz that after her protective order against him expired in 2013, “He [Dwight] told me that he would wait until my defenses were down and then he would get me.” She added, “I had my own terrorist, my own personal terrorist.” Dwight Jones’ killing spree allegedly targeted individuals with connections to their divorce. To watch a preview of this week’s Dateline, titled ‘Unraveled,’ airing Friday, June 29 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, 9 p.m. CT., click here. The transcript of the excerpt is provided below.

The one-hour broadcast on Friday also includes an exclusive interview with Rick Anglin, a retired Phoenix police detective and Connie’s now-husband. Anglin, who tipped off police about Dwight Jones’ role in the murders, tells Mankiewicz how the couple had to be hyper-vigilant before Jones took his own life, explaining: “You don’t get to just say, ‘Let’s go to the movies.’ You’ve got to scan the parking lot. You’ve got to be aware of any social media that’s being posted.”

“Unraveled” explores the topics of domestic violence and mass murder with experts in the field, and examines why the criminal justice system didn’t stop Dwight Jones until it was too late. Mankiewicz speaks with Karen Kolbe, a psychotherapist who treated Connie and Dwight’s son, Natalie Collins, the fiancée of victim Dr. Steven Pitt and Allie Bones, CEO of the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence. The program is produced by Karen Israel, Chetna Joshi, Susan Leibowitz, David Ketterling, Michelle Madigan, Dan Bregman and senior producer Joe Delmonico.

Excerpt:

Josh Mankiewicz Voice Over: When Connie’s final protective order against Dwight expired in 2013, he was able to legally purchase a gun.

Connie Jones: He told me that he would wait until my defenses were down and then he would get me.

Josh Mankiewicz Voice Over: By then, Connie had started carrying a gun of her own. Rick trained her how to use it if and when the day came that Dwight confronted her.

Rick Anglin: I prepared her for it mentally, physically, and emotionally. She’s trained for it.

Josh Mankiewicz Voice Over: The court ordered that Dwight get psychological help. There’s no evidence he ever complied. Instead, Dwight isolated himself at this extended-stay hotel while Connie and Rick remained hyper-vigilant, especially about her son.

Rick Anglin: You don’t get to just say, “Let’s go to the movies.” You’ve got to scan the parking lot. You’ve got to be aware of any social media that’s being posted.

Josh Mankiewicz: And you’re always looking over your shoulder.

Connie Jones: Yes. I had my own terrorist, my own personal terrorist.

###

ABOUT “DATELINE”

“Dateline” is the longest-running series in NBC primetime history. In its 26th season, “Dateline” is anchored by Lester Holt and features correspondents Andrea Canning, Josh Mankiewicz, Keith Morrison and Dennis Murphy. Airing Fridays at 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT, “Dateline” reaches more than 18 million people every week through its broadcast, and millions more through its social media platforms. David Corvo is the senior executive producer, and Liz Cole is the executive producer. Follow Dateline on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.