Victim Mourned Questions in 13-Month-Old’S Death Continue by Mark Rogers Managing Editor
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2011 BUSINESS INSIDE Poboys and more Your guide to dining in featured on menu. Marion County. Section 3A Section B “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” VOLUME 109 • NUMBER 35 ESTABLISHED 1882 — Proverbs 28:13 Victim mourned Questions in 13-month-old’s death continue By Mark Rogers Managing Editor Wreaths, flowers and candles mark the building where 13-month-old Akaysha (Johnson) Pace died. Police reports indicate the young girl died of multiple blunt-force traumas to her head last week. On Tuesday night, dozens of residents of the Hendricks Street Apartments joined family and friends in a candlelight vigil as police continued their investigation into her death. “I’m so glad to see so many people turned out,” said Sherry Jones, Akaysha’s grandmother. “We needed people to come out so we can get justice for this. It’s taken too long.” Jones said family members are concerned because there have been no At left, a picture of 13-month-old Akaysha (Johnson) Pace sits atop a memorial arrests. Columbia Police Detective Chris outside Building B at the Hendricks Street Apartments. Above, dozens of See ‘Mourned’ Page 3A mourners gathered for a candlelight vigil Tuesday evening. photos by Mark Rogers Pursuit leads to arrest By Mark Rogers Managing Editor An Easter night pursuit that began in Columbia has left a Prentiss man facing a variety of charges. Perry Andrew Barrett turned himself into to authorities in Jefferson Davis County a day after leading police on a chase of nearly 30 miles. Barrett fled a traffic stop from Sgt. Mike Cooper of the Columbia Police Department Sunday night. Bowlers gathered at “I got a tip the guy was drunk and Columbia Lanes was driving into town,” Cooper Tuesday night to roll a said. Barrett traveled to the few frames for the Walmart parking lot to drop his American Cancer child off according to authorities. Society’s Relay for Life. “I pulled up next to him and The tournament featured attempted to stop him, he drove prizes in several off,” Cooper said. “Maybe he categories and more didn't see me.” Cooper said than 30 bowlers Barrett pulled out in front of participated. several vehicles and headed up Above, a ball hits the Sumrall Road. “I caught up with pins, while above right, him and tried to get him to pull Bryan Warner rolls a over using my blue lights.” frame. At right, Leitha Barrett did not stop, instead he Chapman speaks with continued on National Guard bowlers. Marion Road. “He stopped for a second,” County’s Relay for Life is Cooper said. But Barrett May 6. photos by Mark Rogers See ‘Pursuit’ Page 3A Project’s aim is to preserve county’s history Clerk Cass Barnes and the project’s goal is to 1817. By Lori Watts Circuit Clerk Jessie Loftin evaluate and improve the “Many of Marion County’s Staff Writer met with the Mississippi preservation of and access to records date to its founding Department of Archives and historical documents in the in 1811,” said Barnard. Visitors to the Marion History Local Government state’s 14 original territorial According to Barnard, the County Courthouse, who Records Office director, Tim counties. These counties, Marion County Historical want to search the county’s Barnard, in March, to Adams, Amite, Claiborne, Society is collaborating with oldest documents, may be conclude the Territorial Franklin, Greene, Hancock, the county to help assure the able to do so, in the future, Records Inventory Project, Jackson, Jefferson, continuing preservation of with more ease and less which identified and Lawrence, Marion, Pike, the historical records. Some chance of damage to the inventoried their offices’ pre- Warren, Wayne and MCHS members also met fragile pages of history. 1920 records. Wilkinson, pre-date with the MDAH project staff Books like these marriage records from the 1800s will Marion County Chancery According to the MDAH, Mississippi’s statehood in See ‘Records’ Page 3A be available electronically soon. photo by Lori Watts SATURDAY, 2A www.columbianprogress.com April 30, 2011 Justin Abram and Amber Franklin pose Students filled the dance floor at the Bethany Leming accompanied Drew Aaron Bedwell and Markee Cox pause before prom. prom. Stringer to the prom. for a photo. West Marion Prom The West Marion prom was held Friday, Keena Simmons, Queen; Nate Stafford, Apr. 22, at the Columbia Exposition Center. Prince and Lace Dickerson, Princess. Q The students elected the students, pictured at Photos by Susan Amundson left, as prom royalty. Kody Anderson,.King; and submitted Keena Simmons, Kody Anderson, Nate Stafford and Lace Dickerson. Posing for a group shot, in front of the home of Jeff and Rene Dungan, are Alex Singley, Sarah Anthony, Austin Lodds, Hanna Sistrunk, Brandon Amundson, Kayla Robertson, Natalie Johnson, Nate Stafford, Cheyenne Turnage, Justin Stringer, Danielle Moore and Landon Dunn. Hanna Sistrunk, Kayla Robertson and Jordan Easterling and Kevin Hansen. Danielle Moore. From left, Brianna Case, Kayla Terrell, Laken Nace, Taylor McKenzie, Morgan Craft, Katelyn Martin and Deedee Slocum. Alex Singley turns and talks to Austin Lodds, Brandon Amundson and Landon Meagan McDaniel and Cruz Clark. Cindy Sager and Lukas Hannemann. Dunn while their dates are having their pictures made. From left, Kelli Stogner, Emily Tremper, Nyla Mitchell Layken Cox, Tyler Mitchell and Sky Poole. Morgan Cutrer and Aaron Reagan. and Shana Kendrick. SATURDAY April 30, 2011 www.columbianprogress.com 3A Mourned continued from Page 1A Brumfield said the investigators are she possibly do to you? Nobody’s told B U S I N E S S FE A T U R E looking at three “persons of interest” me anything … not nothing…” in the girl’s death. Jones said some media reports “The autopsy’s been performed,” named her daughter as a suspect. “All said Detective Chris Brumfield. “The of a sudden, she’s a suspect, and that’s , preliminary indications are the child not right. I know how much she loved sustained multiple blunt force traumas the girl. They shouldn’t even be LAINE S’ POBOYS AND MORE to the head. According to the looking at the mother.” pathologist, it’s not from a fall or Johnson said she left Akaysha with 922 Towne Square Shopping Center, Columbia (601) 731-2737 being dropped. It was done by the people about 7 p.m. Autopsy someone.” results estimated the time of death Eeten’s mother owned a restaurant several By Lori Watts years ago, so she has a good foundation in the The family also said rumors are around midnight. Johnson wasn’t Staff Writer hurting both sides and maybe the called until morning. Police got the business. “I see this spot as an opportunity for a investigation. “There’s a lot being said call at 10:47 a.m. April 19. starting point. My customers will tell me how to Delaine Eeten, a Baxterville resident, opened that’s not true,” Jones said. “My “My baby was already dead,” develop and expand,” she said. Laine’s Poboys and More, located in the back of daughter loved the child. She loves Johnson said. “She was cold when I Customers can enter the restaurant through the the Towne Square Flea Market at 922 Towne her kids.” Her daughter, Angela got to her.” Johnson “I think they flea market or from an entrance on the back of the Square Shopping Center, a month ago. The Johnson is Akaysha’s mother. killed the baby before midnight,” shopping center building, facing East Marion former construction worker from Bayou Gauche, Jones spoke about the investigation Jones said as she and her daughter Road. The restaurant is open later than the flea La., was looking for a new career after moving to as mourners gathered in front of received cards of condolence from market so Eeten established the separate entrance the small Mississippi town. Building B at the apartment complex. residents. “I saw her the day before for her patrons. “They can come through the back “I love to cook and I love it when people love “It’s a shame,” she said. “They and she was fine.” anytime, but when the flea market is closed they my food,” Eeten said. “When I stopped (police) had suspects and they let them Jones continued speaking about the have to,” she said. Customers can access the construction work after 21 years, I was looking go. I don’t think that was right.” case and her daughter’s involvement. “I just want the ones who did it,” “If you weren’t there, how can you be said Johnson, fighting back tears as a suspect? She (Akaysha) was too she spoke about her daughter. “When young. It was a brutal murder and it I left her that night she (Akaysha) was wasn’t at the hands of my daughter. fine. I just want the one who did it to We’ve got to get some justice.” come up and say they did it. I want to “There are no charges yet,” know who did it and why.” Brumfield said. “But we do have three Johnson said a relative of the father persons of interest and hopefully there and others had kept the toddler for the will be an arrest. Somebody’s night. “Whoever did this, please come responsible for doing this to the child forward. Why did you do it? What did and we’re going to find out who.” Records continued from Page 1A who spent several days last summer project before his retirement date the inventorying records in the county. end of this year.