Saturday Feb. 23,
2013
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Daily Corinthian Vol. 117, No. 47
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • One section
Daughter found guilty of murder Jones maintains innocence, will be behind bars at least until age 65 BY BRANT SAPPINGTON bsappington@dailycorinthian.com
BOONEVILLE — Rebecca Lynn Jones tearfully maintained her innocence Friday after jurors returned a guilty verdict of murder against her for the 2010 shooting death of her mother in Prentiss County. Jones, 49, was immediately sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole by Circuit Judge Jim Pounds. Asked if she had anything to say prior to sentencing, she quietly replied, “I’m not guilty.” Rebecca Jones’ mother, Jane Jones, was found shot twice in her Prentiss County home in May 2010 and died a short time later at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. Under Mississippi law she will be eligible for parole at the age of 65 or after serving at least 30 years of her sentence. Jurors had the option of convicting the defendant of the lesser charge of manslaughter by either culpable negligence or in the heat of passion but instead convicted her of the most serious possible charge. Jurors took a total of approximately four and a half hours to reach their verdict beginning Thursday evening and continuing Friday morning. Jones was immediately transported from the courthouse to the Prentiss County Justice Center and then transferred to
Staff photo by Brant Sappington
Prentiss County Sheriff Randy Tolar assists handcuffed and shackled Rebecca Jones into a waiting patrol car for transport to Prentiss County Justice Center following her murder conviction Friday. Jones is surrounded by other officers including Investigator Derrick Hester (left), Assistant Jail Administrator Ricky Peebles (to her right) and Deputy Tammy Johnson (far right) as she’s escorted from the courthouse. Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Pearl. This marked the second time
Rebecca Jones faced trial over the shooting. Last October a mistrial was declared on the
second day of her first trial after she fell ill and was hospitalized for a lengthy period of time
in Alabama. When she was released from the hospital she was immediately ordered held without bond until the conclusion of the case. Prosecutors argued throughout the case that Rebecca Jones killed her mother following an argument after the daughter went to the mother’s home to confront her over her mother’s plan to sell a plot of land she considered her own. The prosecution said investigators showed there was no evidence of a struggle in the home. Jones testified on her own behalf Thursday and claimed she had gone to her mother’s home to discuss her mother’s recent erratic behavior. She said her mother was shot in a struggle for the gun the daughter carried in her purse after she pulled the gun from the purse to reach for her keys to leave the house. She claimed she had no intent to shoot her mother and the gun went off in a desperate struggle between the two women. Prosecutors told jurors Jones’ actions following the shooting were proof of her indifference to her mother’s injuries. The defendant left the home immediately after the shooting and returned a short time later. She called only her boyfriend in Alabama after the shooting and Please see TRIAL | 2
BHS grad serves as state FFA officer Shootings: One suspect in custody, two still at large
BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
BIGGERSVILLE — Chloe Henson was telling her story in front of a familiar group. The 2012 Biggersville High School graduate was back home as part of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) state officer team. The vice president, also a Northeast Mississippi Community College freshman, and five other officers have been on the road the past four days as part of National FFA Week. “We have spent the week telling our individual stories,” said Henson prior to speaking with BHS students. “FFA is so misconstrued that we want to get the word out on what the organization really is.” “Not all of them grew up on a farm,” said Gayle Fortenberry, State FFA coordinator. “But each of them found a place in FFA.”
BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Eighty-one students will make up the cast. Treadway is also planning a couple of special events to go along with the 20th anniversary of the production. “As part of our promotion of “Grease,” we would like to invite the cast of the first production to the March 3 matinée,” she said. A sock hop is planned following the 2 p.m. performance on Sunday with hopes of having as many of the 1993 cast as pos-
One shooting suspect has been released on bond while two others are still being sought in separate shooting cases in the past week. Earlier in the week, the Corinth Police Department formally charged Bacarra Hill, 26, of Johns Street, with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Bond was set at $25,000 on the aggravated assault charge and $10,000 on the firearm possession charge. Hill posted bond and was released. He had a prior felony drug charge. Detective Capt. Ralph Dance said the shooting victim, Andraea Stovall, 29, underwent surgery for several bullet wounds and is recovering well at Magnolia Regional Health Center. The police department is still searching for a man wanted for questioning in this case — the individual who allegedly assaulted Hill on Meigg Street about an hour prior to the shooting Monday night. Hill was injured in the altercation and apparently went hunting for the assailant. At the intersection of Proper and Young Street, Hill fired a .40 caliber handgun into Stovall’s vehicle, apparently because he
Please see ‘GREASE’ | 2
Please see SHOOTINGS | 2
len and Brett Marlar. “I have been able to meet several people,” said Henson of her time as a state officer. Staff photo by Steve Beavers “The best part has been seeing FFA State Officer Chloe Henson speaks with a Biggersville High how other chapters work.” School student during a visit by state officers to the school. The week has been a busy one for Henson and fellow officers Kristen Bishop, President; Henson is part of a long list of ag teacher Ray Nash was once Kayla Walters, Secretary; LauBiggersville students to serve president as were Lions’ alums as a state officer. Current BHS Joseph Suitor, Dr. Johnny AlPlease see HENSON | 2
81 students presenting ‘Grease’ at Corinth High BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
“Grease” is the word at Corinth High School. The 1971 musical was the first production of CHS theater students at the new school in 1993. Twenty years later, characters Danny Zucco and Sandy Olsen will be on stage again at the school “Kids want to do the musical “Grease” every year,” said second-year theater teacher Kelly Treadway. “It was done the very first year here and it hasn’t been
“I am excited about what we have put together … all the kids have talked about was when can we do ‘Grease’?” Kelly Treadway Theater teacher, Corinth High School done since.” Four performances of the popular musical, made famous by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, is set for Feb. 28, March 2-3 and March 5 at CHS.
Tickets are $7. “I am excited about what we have put together … all the kids have talked about was when can we do “Grease”?” said Treadway.
Index Stocks........8 Classified......14 Comics........ 7 State........ 5
Weather...... 19 Obituaries........ 6 Opinion........4 Sports...... 12
On this day in history 150 years ago Gen. Grenville Dodge in Corinth reports Van Dorn has crossed the Tennessee River with 8,000 cavalry and has joined Forrest near Columbia. The cavalry is being supplied by the railroad between Tuscumbia and Decatur, which Dodge proposes to destroy with men from the Corinth garrison.
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