Saucier man convicted for murder of girlfriend

Gulfport, Miss. – District Attorney W. Crosby Parker announced that Jeremy Charles Childress, age 48, of Saucier, MS was convicted yesterday for the murder of his girlfriend Melinda Hester, at the home they shared on Haley Road in Saucier.

The jury deliberated for a little over an hour before returning a guilty verdict on the charge of First-Degree Murder.

Judge Randi P. Mueller presided over the trial and sentenced Childress to life in prison after the jury’s verdict.

During the three-day trial, the jury heard that on August 27, 2021, Deputies from the Neshoba County Sheriff Sheriff’s Office responded to the home of Childress’ sister in Neshoba County after she called 911 and advised that Childress was at her door with a gun, stating that he had killed his girlfriend on the Coast.

Deputies located Childress and he was ultimately taken into custody and was found to be in possession of a Rossi .357 with two (2) spent rounds.

Childress told the Neshoba County authorities that he had shot and killed his girlfriend at their home on Haley Road in Saucier, and that he shot her with the .357 Rossi.

The Jury heard a recording of the statement in which Childress could be heard saying “she’s in her utility room behind the door,” and “she’s got a hole in the top of her head.”

The jury then heard that the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office responded to the residence on Haley Road, where Deputies located Ms. Hester’s deceased body in the utility room with a gunshot wound to the top of her head.

The autopsy of the victim revealed that she had been shot one time in the top of the head, and the bullet traveled in a straight line threw her brain and lodged in her neck.

Analysts from the Mississippi Forensics’ laboratory testified that Childress’ DNA was located at the crime scene, and that the bullet removed from Ms. Hester’s neck was fired from the Rossi .357 Childress had when he was taken into custody” said Assistant District Attorney Ian Baker, who prosecuted the case along with ADA Patti Simpson.

Childress took the stand in his own defense, and stated that he and Hester became involved in an argument and the gun just went off.

Under cross examination by ADA Simpson, Childress admitted that when he followed Hester into the utility room, she was unarmed, and she did not attack him in any way.

“This senseless murder was the result of the defendant’s alcohol-fueled rage at his girlfriend for kicking him out of her house, and in response he chose to pick up a gun, find her in the utility closet, and murder her. We hope that this conviction brings healing and justice to Ms. Hester’s family. We also commend the excellent work of both the Neshoba and Harrison County Sheriff’s Offices in working together to secure this conviction and sentence,” said DA Parker.