Beating victim dies after weeks in coma

News Briefs From Across The State

By Monica Land

Charges against two suspects may be upgraded

A Warren County man beaten and robbed while working in Jackson has died after being in a coma for 41 days.

Sixty-one-year-old Fred Jackson, of Yokena, had suffered severe head and facial injuries.

He was attacked and robbed by two men on Jan. 29 while welding at a salvage yard in Jackson.

His daughter, Sheila Hedrick, told The Vicksburg Post he died Friday at University Medical Center.

Two Jackson men, 29-year-old Jontez Garvis and 25-year-old David Thomas, were arrested and charged last month with assault and robbery. They are being held in Raymond. A Jackson police spokeswoman says other charges are pending.

Hedrick said her father had showed signs of improvement until he underwent brain surgery about three weeks ago.

Aberdeen man dies in two-vehicle accident

WTVA is reporting that an Aberdeen man has died from injuries he received in a two-vehicle accident Saturday afternoon, according to Monroe County Coroner Alan Gurley.

It happened on Darracott Road and the intersection of Robin Drive at 1:11 p.m.

Gurley said Calvin Sacus III, 37, died of multiple trauma at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo.

It's unknown if he was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash. He was alone in the car when it occurred.

Gurley said the condition of others in the accident is also not known at this point.

The Monroe County Coroner's Office and Monroe County Sheriff's Office are investigating the accident

Hundreds turn out for Amanda Price 5K

Hundreds of feet hit the pavement Saturday morning to honor the life of Amanda Price, and they did so by doing something she loved.

“Amanda started the Couch to 5K program that we were doing in the community about a year ago,” organizer Amanda Kent, told WTVA. “She completed that program and actually completed four or five 5Ks.”

Price was murdered outside her home in New Albany in December 2011. Twenty-year-old Craig Baker is being held for her murder.

The money from the “Fun Run” went to the Junior Auxiliary to help the children establish a scholarship in Price’s name. The 5K money went to Survival Inc., in Saltillo. Survival Inc. is a group that helps victims of violent crimes, and has served to support the Price and Cossey families.

Saturday’s participants said they were there to support the family, and the winner of the race, Austin Epting, said he raced to give back to someone who gave so much to him, Price’s husband, Coach Ron Price.

2 plead guilty to animal cruelty charges

Two Wayne County residents have been ordered to pay more than $13,000 in fines and restitution after authorities seized several animals at their home in the Beat Four Community.

The Leader-Call reports sheriff's deputies took nine horses and 16 dogs from the home of 38-year-old Timothy Jefcoat and 39-year-old Michelle Jefcoat in February. Each was charged with eight counts of animal cruelty.

Timothy and Michelle Jefcoat appeared in Wayne County Justice Court last month and each pleaded guilty to one count of animal cruelty.

Judge Charles Chapman ordered the couple to pay a total of $13,151 in fines and restitution for the care of the animals. The couple also gave up their rights to the animals.

Jackson Fire Department gets $67k grant

Congressman Bennie Thompson said the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration has awarded $67,744 in Firefighters Grant (AFG) to the Jackson Fire Department.

The purpose of the AFG is to award grants directly to fire departments and EMS organizations that are unaffiliated with a hospital to enhance their ability to protect the health and safety of the public, as well as that of first responder personnel. AFG funding priority:

• Operations and Safety Program Area: Eligible activities are limited to training, equipment, personal protective equipment, wellness and fitness, and health and safety modifications to stations and facilities.