KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — Jail phone call recordings obtained by 24 Hour News 8 have revealed why mass murderer Jason Dalton ended his trial before it even started .
Dalton was in the Kalamazoo County Jail for nearly three years awaiting trial for killing six people and critically wounding two others during a shooting spree in Kalamazoo on Feb. 20, 2016 . During his time in jail, he made dozens of phone calls that the sheriff’s office recorded.
24 Hour News 8 obtained the recordings through an open records request on Friday.
The day before Dalton pleaded guilty to all the charges against him, he spoke with his mom, the records show.
“I’m very sorry for the trouble that I’ve caused,” he said.
Dalton told his mom he didn’t understand why the prosecution wouldn’t offer him a plea bargain.
“I just wanted you to know that… they won’t allow me to respectfully bow out or take anything,” he said. “They want to have a trial no matter what, with live coverage.”