Suspected killer, kidnapper Washington Jr. arraigned 2 years to day Sophia and Matteo Van Dam vanished in 2023

Two years to the day of the disappearance of Sophia and Matteo Van Dam, the suspected killer and kidnapper was arraigned on murder and kidnapping charges before a Sumter County judge.

Jonas Jerry Washington Jr., 26, of Burton in Beaufort County, appeared before Judge George McFaddin Jr. the afternoon of Tuesday, June 24, at Sumter County Judicial Center in his red Sumter County Detention Center jumpsuit and handcuffs. He was extradited to Sumter from Georgia last week in connection to the killing of 20-year-old Sophia Van Dam and the kidnapping of then 2-year-old Matteo Van Dam in June 2023.

In the courtroom were law enforcement with Sumter County Sheriff’s Office as well as victim advocates and officers with Sumter Police Department, some sitting and some standing but all creating a wall of comfort around Sophia’s parents, Theresa and Jim Van Dam.

Sophia and Matteo were last seen on June 24, 2023, heading to Sumter from Beaufort, before being reported missing on June 28 by Sophia’s mother, Theresa, according to earlier reports. At the time, Sophia and Matteo shared a home with Washington in Sumter, according to Sumter Police Department.

 Before Washington was brought in, McFaddin explained to the courtroom that this was not a trial nor a  bond hearing. It was an arraignment, where the prosecution informs the defense of the crimes that the defendant can be indicted for and allowing the defendant to enter a plea if they choose.

Third Circuit Solicitor Chip Finney informed Washington of his charges, alleging that Sophia was killed on June 22, 2023, and explaining that Washington could face life in prison for the murder charge and up to 30 years on the kidnapping charge, if convicted by a jury. Washington did not enter a plea on Tuesday, and the process to assign him a public defender began.

Back in June 2023, Washington was out on bond on charges from 2021 out of Beaufort County involving  second-degree burglary, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, grand larceny and kidnapping, according to Beaufort County Public Index. He entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to 10 years, which is to be served concurrently to the five-year sentence he received for a 2020 burglary charge out of Georgia.

An investigation is ongoing into the death of Sophia and kidnapping of Matteo by Sumter Police Department, Beaufort County Sheriff's Office, SLED and FBI.

Anyone with information that can help in the investigation is asked to submit tips to the police department by calling (803) 436-2700. Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC, at p3tips.com, using the P3 Tips app for mobile devices or to SLED at tips@sled.sc.gov.