Tim Jones’ children died frightening deaths, a forensic pathologist testified.

Dr. Janice Ross found:

• Merah died by “homicidal violence.”

• Elias was strangled, and ruled it a homicide.

• Nahtahn died by homicidal violence.

• Gabriel was “probably” strangled, and the manner of death was homicide.

• Elaine Abigail died by homicidal violence.

• It appeared a hand saw was used near the knee joint of Nahtahn inflicting a wound down to the bone.

Jones said he was trying to dismember the bodies.

“I tried to saw a leg but I couldn’t do that,” he said.

Decomposition was massive after the children’s bodies were left in the hot sun in the black garbage bags, Ross testified.

In his audio confession, the father of 5 said:

• “I used my hands to strangle my kids. I used a belt, too.”

• Elias pleaded “Take me with you, Dad” as Jones strangled him to death.

• Merah struggled and said “I love you” as he strangled her to death.

Jones told police he feared Nahtahn was going to kill him by “cutting him up and feeding him to the dogs.”

He also said that after Nahtahn’s death, he heard a demonic voice telling him to kill the other children.

He said he had been smoking the illegal drug Spice that night.

Defense psychiatrists diagnosed Jones as schizophrenic. An insanity verdict would have spared Jones’ life.

A court-appointed psychiatrist found Jones sane at the time of the murders and knew what he was doing.