7
The murder charge came twenty-three days after Jamal’s death.
Detective Marquez and the island prosecutor announced it together.
Bartholomew Jefferson was charged with second-degree murder.
Robert immediately challenged the degree.
“This was planned isolation ending in deliberate force,” he told reporters. “The fact that Bart may not have selected the exact second of death days in advance does not make the murder spontaneous.”
The prosecutor argued the evidence supported malice but not premeditated intent to kill.
Robert disagreed.
Cleo disagreed louder.
“Bart brought Jamal to a closed cliff after disabling communication, planting evidence, staging witnesses, and restraining Lauren. What did people think the location was for—a conversation?”
The clip went viral.
Public pressure intensified.
The prosecutor reopened the question of first-degree murder.
Bart remained in his family home under strict monitoring while extradition arguments continued.
Cleo hated the house arrest most.
Jamal had spent six days in the ocean.
Bart slept in the bed where he grew up.
Isaiah did not watch news coverage anymore.
Renee watched every report.
Their grief moved differently.
Isaiah became quiet.
Renee became exact.
She kept folders, dates, names, and statements.
She corrected reporters who mispronounced Jamal’s middle name.
She rejected interviews that wanted childhood photographs without discussing the murder.
She returned every gift sent by the Jefferson family.
One package contained white roses and a handwritten card from Bart’s mother.
Renee sent it back unopened.
“No flowers from the house that grew the hand.”