Man confesses to murder

A Noxapater man confessed to killing his girlfriend in Harrison County hours before he was arrested by Neshoba County deputies at his mother’s home here early Friday morning, the authorities said.

Jeremy Charles Childress, 46, of Noxapater was arrested in the early morning hours Friday by Neshoba County Sheriff’s Deputies responding to a disturbance call in the Bond community.

Neshoba County Sheriff Eric Clark said the call came in at about 5:30 a.m. from a residence on Road 2822.

Clark said that when they arrived on the scene they found a man who was later identified as Childress with a handgun talking about killing himself. 

Clark said that after a brief standoff they were able to get him to put his weapons down and take him into custody.

Clark said that while making the arrest Childress voluntarily confessed to murdering his girlfriend in Saucier in Harrison County.

“He stated that he had killed his girlfriend and driven up to see his mom before whatever happened, happened,” Clark said suggesting that Childress knew he would be arrested or he would kill himself.

Clark said his office then contacted the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office and gave them details about the murder and where to find the body. He said that HCSO said that the information provided “checked out.”

“We did not have the crime scene here but we did have a lot of the elements,” Clark said. “His information was spot on.”

Clark said he cannot add many more details because the case is still open but said that they recovered .357 magnum and a .45 caliber Glock belonging to Childress as well as his truck.

The Sun Herald reported that Michelle Hester, 52, was found shot and killed in her Saucier home in connection with Childress’ arrest.

Clark said that Childress gave 13394 Haley Road, Noxapater as his address. He said Childress faces charges of public drunk and disturbance of a family in Neshoba County. He is being held at the Neshoba County Detention Center on a $1,400 in bond. 

Childress was an Electrician at Moses Electric, according to his Facebook page.

Clark said all relevant information and evidence has been turned over to or has been shared with the HCSO and that the HCSO had deputies in town the day of the arrest for interviews with Childress.

Clark said extradition was postponed due to Hurricane Ida.