Ex-Girlfriend among Three Arrested for Alleged Conspiracy and Murder of Southern University Sophomore: Mississippi Authorities
Jackson, MS- Three individuals, including a former girlfriend, are now facing murder charges in western Mississippi after allegedly conspiring to kill a former Southern University sophomore who was later found shot dead, according to the Wilkinson County Sheriff.
Three individuals, Derek Terrell Hollins Jr., Calajia Jack, and Allyah Martin, are now facing first-degree murder charges in Wilkinson County. The authorities discovered a body, believed to be that of Steven Harris, who had been shot.
Three individuals have been apprehended in West Feliciana Parish on charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. They are currently in custody and will soon be extradited to Mississippi to face their murder charges, according to Wilkinson County deputies.
Authorities have yet to confirm the identity of the body discovered on Tuesday. However, investigators have expressed confidence in their belief that the body belongs to Harris, based on conversations with his family.
The Wilkinson County Coroner’s Office is currently awaiting a DNA sample from Harris’ family before conducting an autopsy.
According to 20th District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla, there are no plans to convene a grand jury in this case. Instead, he intends to charge all three individuals involved.
In a recent development, West Feliciana Parish Sheriff Brian Spillman revealed that his office has uncovered evidence suggesting a conspiracy by the trio of suspects to lure Harris to Mississippi with the intention of causing harm to him.
One of the individuals involved, Martin, was in a relationship with Harris and they have a child together. According to court records, the two individuals had a documented history of filing restraining orders against each other, with both parties claiming instances of physical abuse.
Martin and Harris reached an agreement on joint custody for their son, with Martin being the primary caregiver and Harris having visitation rights. He later filed a complaint alleging that she violated their custody agreement by moving to Texas without notifying him, which he claimed was a contemptuous act.
Harris’ family reports that he disappeared just over a week prior to a custody hearing scheduled for Thursday. He was determined to continue his fight for full custody of his son. According to Harris’ parents, their son is currently residing with them, as reported by WBRZ.
Lasonia, Harris’ mother, grew suspicious of Martin after Allyah informed her that her son was present at the exact location where his cell phone had last pinged. Only Lasonia, her husband, and the police were aware of the final whereabouts. It should be noted that her son and Martin had a strained relationship at the time of his disappearance.
In a surprising turn of events, Southern University has denied any involvement in organizing memorials for Harris. However, the Southern University Marching Band, also known as The Human Jukebox, has expressed their heartfelt condolences to his family.