Consecutive Life Sentences For Man Who Killed 2 At Upper Bucks Campground: DA

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — A Philadelphia man will serve two consecutive life sentences after a first-degree murder conviction in the killing of two men at the Homestead Campground in 2019.

Common Pleas Judge Diane E. Gibbons handed down the ruling on Thursday, saying that 42-year-old Miles K. Jones would spend the rest of his life in state prison for the killings. She sentenced him to consecutive life terms without parole, according to the Bucks County District Attorney's Office.

The life sentences follow convictions in two counts of first-degree murder, 13 counts of recklessly endangering another person, and one count each of firearms not to be carried without a license and possession of an instrument of crime.

“These were good men [who] were murdered in front of their families," Gibbons said.

Jones had been invited by his girlfriend on a camping trip in West Rockhill Township with 41-year-old Eric Braxton and 46-year-old Arthur Hill. Loved ones said Hill and Braxton were close friends who enjoyed the outdoors. All three were from Philadelphia; the group of 15 was mostly relatives and friends of Jones' girlfriend.

At around 2 a.m. on Oct. 19, an argument erupted between Jones and his girlfriend and she told Jones to leave the tent they were sharing. An altercation ensued and Jones flipped the tent before Hill and Braxton came to the woman's assistance, according to a news release.

Hill was with his two sons when they all approached and tried to calm Jones. Jones pushed Hill, according to the release, after which one of Hill's sons defended his father by punching Jones and knocking him to the ground. While Jones was on the ground, he told them they were going to pay for this, saying "nobody's safe."

Some of the group walked Jones to his girlfriend's car to calm him down and separate him from his girlfriend. Jones then retrieved a 9mm handgun and shot Braxton in the chest. The other campers ran into the woods for safety, and Jones shot Hill in the back as he was trying to flee, according to the release.

“They acted immediately to help, and it cost them their lives,” Gibbons said. Her conviction was partly based on Jones' perceived "lack of remorse," according to the DA's office.

The Bucks County Detectives along with the Pennridge Regional Police Department and Central Bucks Special Response Team Crime Scene Unit investigated this case, which was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Edward M. Louka and Deputy District Attorney Megan Hunsicker.

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