News Briefs From Across The State
Death ruled accidental
Authorities in Harrison County said a female guest at a local hotel fell asleep in the hot tub and drowned. The woman, who was not identified, was found dead in a hotel room at the Hard Rock in Biloxi on Sept. 7 around 7:22 a.m. The police department sent criminal investigators to the scene, but the information they gathered and the results of the autopsy indicated the woman’s death was unintentional.
Her death was ruled accidental.
Biloxi man indicted on wife’s capital murder
A grand jury will hear the case of a Biloxi man accused of murdering his wife. At a preliminary hearing in August in Biloxi, Ryan Jacob Cates was indicted on one count of capital murder. The 33-year-old is accused in the beating death of Laura Turner Cates, 29. Cates was found unconscious in the couple’s mobile home in Sherwood Village in May. She later died from her injuries.
Cates remains in custody, without bond, in the Harrison County Adult Detention Center.
7 plead guilty to insurance fraud
Seven people have pleaded guilty to charges of insurance fraud involving the State and School Employees Health Insurance Plan. The pleas were entered Friday, Sept. 9, and Monday, Sept. 10, in Rankin County Circuit Court. Charges are pending against seven others.
Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Mississippi administers the health plans for the state.
An indictment alleged three Blue Cross/Blue Shield employees processed claims for up to $44,000 to at least 11 state employees for reimbursement for medical procedures that never occurred.
The attorney general’s office said the state employees cashed the checks and kicked back some of the money to the Blue Cross/Blue Shield employees, with the total loss to the state equaling more than $500,000. Authorities said Blue Cross/Blue Shield made full restitution to the state.
The investigation began when a participant returned her check to Blue Cross/Blue Shield, which contacted authorities. Authorities said the company cooperated with the investigation. Those entering pleas before Circuit Judge John Emfinger were: Kwame Smith, 30, of Greenville. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison with five years’ supervised probation and $69,232 and restitution to Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
Roaming dogs killing cats in Natchez
Poor leash law enforcement has led to dogs mauling or killing more than 30 cats in the downtown area, Natchez residents said. Many people are talking about the problem but nothing is being done, Nan Garrison, vice president of the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society, told The Natchez Democrat.
She said a nighttime animal control policy is the only solution she sees, and concerned residents will try to get some answers at the next Natchez Board of Aldermen’s meeting.
“Cats are not subject to the leash law, whether people like that or not,” Garrison said. “You cannot live in the city limits and have a dog and it not be in a fenced-in yard or on a leash. There are quite a few people who think they are not subject to that.”
Angela Gibson said her 24-year-old cat, Pear, was sitting on her back yard when dogs attacked him about 10:15 p.m. on Aug. 29. She said she heard a noise at the back door and immediately jumped up and ran outside.
“I got out there just in time to see them running from the backyard with my cat in their mouth,” Gibson said.
Gibson said the large dogs dropped her cat in the alley. Gibson said she took him to the veterinarian.
“There was nothing they could do,” she said. “They had to euthanize him.”
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