The body of a Grenada County man, an apparent slaying victim, was discovered Friday morning (Feb. 24) along a rural road in east central Tallahatchie County.
Tallahatchie County Sheriff Jimmy Fly, who identified the victim as An'Travius Deres Jones, 21, of 849 Pecan St., Grenada, said "it appears he had been shot multiple times."
The case is being investigated as a homicide, noted Tallahatchie County Coroner Ginger Meriwether, who late Friday (Feb. 24) said the body is being held at a morgue and will be transported for autopsy "as soon as a bed becomes available" at the Mississippi Forensics Laboratory in Pearl. UPDATE (March 2): Meriwether said the body would be transported to Pearl on March 2.
Fly said the fully-clothed body was found face-up along "a remote section" of Tatum Pond Road southeast of Charleston. The body was on the west shoulder of the road, he added.
A passing motorist made the discovery and notified the sheriff's office at 6:36, the sheriff explained.
Tallahatchie County Deputy Coroner Angie Davis made the official death pronouncement at the scene about an hour later, Meriwether said, noting that both she and Davis are working the case.
Fly declined to comment on any particulars of the young investigation, including whether officials believe the man was killed at the site where the body was found, or possibly elsewhere. The Tallahatchie-Grenada county line is about six miles away, the sheriff noted.
A resident of the nearest house, located about one-quarter of a mile from the scene, said he "did not hear any gunshots" Thursday night (Feb. 23) or Friday morning (Feb. 24), Fly added.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the Tallahatchie County Sheriff's Office are overseeing the investigation, which as of Friday evening (Feb. 24) had produced no suspects, according to Fly.
The sheriff said officials invite any tips.
"If anyone has any information, anything from the public would be greatly appreciated and the callers would remain anonymous," Fly added.
He said the public may call the Tallahatchie County Jail in Charleston at 662-647-5511 or the sheriff's office in Charleston at 662-647-3700.
