FBI error frees suspect to kill again

ATLANTA, May 4 (UPI) -- FBI agents erred in fingerprinting an Atlanta area suspect more than a year ago, freeing him to commit four alleged slayings, the agency said.

Jeremy Brian Jones was arrested in the Atlanta area over three minor offenses from October 2003 to June 2004 and his fingerprints were sent to the FBI, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Wednesday.

At the time, Jones was wanted in Oklahoma for sexual assault, but the FBI did not link him to that warrant with the prints, so he was released.

He is now a suspect in slayings in New Orleans, Alabama and two in the Georgia.

In a statement Tuesday, the FBI said as a result of the botched fingerprint matching, "law enforcement lost an opportunity to prevent further criminal activity by this individual."

Thomas E. Bush III, assistant director to the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services Division, said the FBI regrets the incident.

"We continue to improve our procedures and examine new technologies to upgrade and enhance the reliability and accuracy of (the fingerprint system).