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Detective Bradley David Lancaster (September 13, 1976 – May 09, 2016) was an American homicide detective and veteran of the United States Air Force working in Kansas City, Kansas. Detective Lancaster is most know for his detective work on the Adrian Jones murder case that resulted in bringing Heather, and Michael Jones to justice in the fall of 2016. Det. Lancaster worked as the lead detective on the murder case of Adrian Jones until his death in the Spring of 2016, however, his work on the case resulted in convictions for child abuse and first degree murderfirst degree murder. The Adrian Jones murder case sparked debates over the state of education, as well as homeschooling, and the regulations that are in place to protect children.

Career
Detective Lancaster was sworn into the Kansas City Kansas Police Department on July 12, 2007. Detective Lancaster worked his to Homicide detective, and began working on the murder of Adrian Jones, a 7 year old boy whose was found body discarded in a livestock pen.

Adrian Jones Murder Case
Authorities believe Adrian Jones, age 7, was murdered by his father, Michael A. Jones, and his stepmother Heather Jones. Heather Jones home-schooled Adrian and his 7 sisters (ages 11 to 1) at their family farm in eastern Kansas. Adrian and two girls were Michael’s children from previous relationships, while the other four girls were Michael and Heather’s biological children together.

Former babysitters of the family have testified that the Joneses’ home was filthy. They witnessed Michael Jones abusing Adrian and his siblings, and that Heather Jones hated Adrian and wanted him dead. Adrian was reported to be deprived of food, while forcing him to stand in a stress position for long periods of time. Adrian went missing in September of 2015, but the authorities were not alerted until police were called to the home on November 25, 2016 for a domestic dispute. When the police returned the following day, they discovered Adrian’s decomposed body in a barn on the property; his body had apparently been fed to the family’s pigs, which Heather purchased in September. Detective Brad Lancaster of the KCKPD was assigned to the case as the lead detective.

Michael Jones, and his wife Heather Jones were both charged with first-degree murder, and child abuse. Michael was also charged with aggravated assault and battery with a deadly weapon; this charge stems from his abuse of Heather. The other children were removed from the home by court order. Michael's bond was set at $10 million dollars.

On Monday, November 14, 2016 - Heather Jones was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years, she also was sentenced to five years and eight months in prison for two counts of child abuse which will run consecutively. Jones, 30, pleaded guilty in Wyandotte County District Court in October of 2016 to a charge of first-degree murder. Michael Jones, 45, also is charged in the case and is awaiting trial. Detective Lancaster was killed in May 2016 and never saw the final outcome of the case.

Death
Detective Brad Lancaster was responding to a call for help from other officers on the afternoon of May 9, 2016 at approximately, 12:17pm CDT (18:17 UTC) at the Hollywood Casino and Kansas Motor Speedway. The suspect, identified as 28-year-old Curtis Ayers, reportedly fled and a foot chase ensued. Ayers then reportedly fired shots at the officers, striking Lancaster at least twice and allegedly fleeing the scene in Lancaster's unmarked police vehicle before abandoning it. Ayers then reportedly hijacked a vehicle with two children in it before abandoning it in Basehor, Kansas. The children were reportedly not physically harmed. Detective Lancaster was taken to the University of Kansas Medical Center where he died from his injuries at 3:30pm CST (21:30 UTC).

Arrest & Trial of Curtis Ayers
Several hours later Ayers was arrested in Kansas City, Missouri. According to the KCPD, around 2:30pm CDT (20:30 UTC), officers located Ayers driving around Bannister Road and 71 Highway, a pursuit began, where Ayers lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a concrete bridge post under 71 Highway. Ayers then attempted to carjack another vehicle on northbound 71 Highway, shooting the female driver. However, the woman drove off. Ayers was then shot by a KCPD officer, and was transported to a local hospital and released into police custody.

District Attorney Jerome Gorman charged Curtis Ayers, 28, with two counts of kidnapping, two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of aggravated burglary, criminal possession of a firearm and aggravated battery,first degree assault, three counts of armed criminal action, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, resisting arrest, and capital murder.