Jones County apparent homicide under investigation

JONES COUNTY, Miss - This is from a press release from the Jones County Sheriff Department.

APPARENT HOMICIDE STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION JONES COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI – On December 31, 2015, approximately 12: 30AM, Jones County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the 100 block of Houston Road for a situation described as an assault.

When deputies arrived, Willie James Newell, 65 and owner of the residence, was found deceased. The victim was found by his daughter and her boyfriend. Investigators from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department, the District Attorney’s Office and the Jones County Coroner’s Office processed the scene of the apparent homicide and collected evidence.

EmServ responded to the scene and transported the victim from the home. Newell’s body was subsequently taken to the Mississippi Crime Lab in Jackson for an autopsy, results are pending.

Sgt. Scott Gable, Investigator with the Jones County Sheriff’s Department, spoke with Newell’s daughter and discovered the victim was last seen by family at 4:30 on the afternoon of December 30, 2015. The investigation continues. If you have any information that could help in the solving of this case, please contact Sgt. Gable at 601-425-3147.

For any additional information as it comes available, feel free to contact Allyson Knotts at 601-428-3151.