News Briefs From Across The State
By Monica Land
Suspect faces 26 charges of credit card fraud
Ocean Springs police are investigating thousands of dollars worth of fraudulent credit card transactions allegedly made by 27-year-old Jessica Richard of Ocean Springs.
The arrest stems after Richard’s aunt recently took over Richards’ 88-year-old grandmother’s finances and discovered the fraudulent charges.
“She found the grandmother’s credit card bills were through the roof,” Lt. Bruce Spearnock said.
That’s when the aunt reported her findings to police and they began questioning family members. They reportedly told police Richard was the culprit.
Spearnock said, Richard was spotted on Walmart surveillance video, which was one of the main stores she allegedly made the charges. According to Spearnock, the fraudulent transactions began in mid-November and were made on two of the victim’s credit cards.
Richard currently faces 26 counts of credit card fraud; however, Spearnock said he expects that number to increase as the investigation moves forward.
Richardwas arrested Thursday and was transported to Ocean Springs jail under a $26,000 bond pending a preliminary hearing.
Lincoln County woman charged in fatal stabbing
Authorities said an argument led to a fatal stabbing at a local home on Dec. 23.
Lincoln County Sheriff Steve Rushing told the Daily Leader that 21-year-old Ebony Clark of Bogue Chitto has been charged with murder. He says Clark is being held on $250,000 bond in the county jail.
He said deputies received a call about 1:30 a.m. that Sunday. Lincoln County Coroner Clay McMorris said 17-year-old Datavion Smith of Bogue Chitto died while at the emergency room of King’s Daughters Medical Center and was pronounced dead at 3:32 a.m.
The case remains under investigation.
Homeless man charged in stabbing
A homeless man was arrested and charged with aggravated assault Saturday. According to Biloxi police the suspect is 46-year-old Robert Boyd Martin.
His arrest stems from a stabbing that happened in a wooded area at Eula Street in Biloxi on Dec. 29.
According to police, Martin allegedly stabbed another person in the chest. No word yet on what prompted the stabbing.
Martin was booked at the Harrison County Jail. His bond was set at $100,000 by Justice Court Judge Albert Fountain.
Man dies in fireworks explosion
Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott said a man died in a homemade fireworks explosion outside his home on Christmas night.
Scott told WCBI that 60-year-old Ralph “Bubba” Elliott died just before 10 p.m. Dec. 25 when the homemade device exploded outside his home off Mississippi Highway 46 in western Clay County.
Elliott owned Elliott Trucking and did contract delivery work for Fed-Ex.
Scott said local, state and federal authorities are investigating to determine what was used in the explosive.
Warren County woman dies in house fire
Warren County officials said a 79-year-old found in her home died in a fire Dec. 26 around 7 a.m.
Deputy County Coroner Kelda Bailess says the body of Norma Buford was found in her mobile home off Mississippi Highway 27 after firefighters were able to pour enough water on it to go inside. He said autopsy results were pending.
County Fire Coordinator Jerry Briggs told the Vicksburg Post that volunteer firefighters from Culkin and Fisher Ferry departments spent more than two hours at the home, which was fully engulfed in flames when the fire was reported by a neighbor. Buford lived alone.
Briggs said the fire appears to have started in or near the kitchen.
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