Appeal denied for Pearl River County man convicted in 2020 murder

PEARL RIVER COUNTY, Miss. (WXXV)-The Mississippi Court of Appeals has largely upheld the conviction and life sentence of a Pearl River County man convicted in a 2020 robbery murder.

In a decision released Thursday, the court affirmed the capital murder conviction of Dustin Gray, who in 2023 was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the 2020 killing of Willie Jones in Picayune.

Gray argued that his post arrest confession should be thrown out, claiming it stemmed from an earlier interrogation.

The court rejected the argument, ruling his later statement to investigators was voluntary and admissible, and corresponded to evidence found in his car, surveillance video showing Gray and his half brother buying tools used to bury Jones’ body and testimony that the killing occurred during a planned robbery.

However, the court did reverse one portion of the sentencing, striking a $10,000 assessment ordered to reimburse public-defender costs.

Gray’s life sentence remains in place.