How did Wendell Martinson die?

What is the Sheriff's Department hiding?

The Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department has yet to tell us how Pastor Wendell Martinson was murdered. People who've seen the room where Martinson was killed say it was a bloody mess, but the ones who talked to us hadn't seen Martinson's body so they didn't know what kind of injuries he had.

Why won't the YCSD tell us what happened? Are they protecting someone?

Most Oxonians are familiar with the location of the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit church, and nobody just happens to be passing by that spot. If you're at that church, you meant to go there.

So why did the killer go there? Was it to see Martinson? Was the killer there for something else and just happened to run into Martinson? And what reason would anyone have for being there in the middle of the night?

Church members tell us there's nothing of value at the church, so they don't think anyone would break in for a burglary. But the same church members also don't think anyone would want to kill Martinson, so what's going on?

And speaking of burglary, did someone break into the church that day or was it already unlocked? Was this a burglary gone wrong? Was it premeditated?

Maybe we'd start getting some answers to all of these questions if the YCSD would start sharing some of what they know.

A lot of people in this community are very upset about Martinson's murder. They'd like to help find the killer, if they can, but they don't know what to do.

Sheriff Sheldon, why won't your department release some information about the case and accept the public's help? What are you hiding?

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Victor Jennings death ruled a homicide

Duh.

The late, not-so-lamented Victor Jennings

Yesterday, the YCSD finally acknowledged what we suspected all along. Victor Jennings was murdered. The Sheriff's PIO Elizabeth Jones made the announcement yesterday in a late afternoon, low-key press conference.

Jones said the coroner found the cause of death was a single stab wound, but wouldn't give any more details about the fatal injury or the murder weapon. Sounds like the YCSD still has a few cards they're waiting to play on this one.

Of course, Victor Jennings was on house arrest, awaiting trial for extorting Michael and Samantha Hawke. And as we all know, the fabulous duo have been in our little burg for the last couple of weeks, hitting the hot spots, making appearances at the Oxford Film Festival, and supposedly scouting locations for an upcoming movie.

What everyone is wondering and no one in the know is talking about is what exactly Victor Jennings was blackmailing them about. Smart money is on those rumors that have been dogging Michael Hawke his whole career, but it could be anything. Nobody keeps secrets better than A-list celebs.

But it's no secret that the Hawkes were in town before Jennings was killed. Could that be why the YCSD is being so tight-lipped about this investigation?

Not that there aren't plenty of other people who had it in for Jennings from what we hear. There have been some whispers sexual assault allegations against him, but Yoknapatawpha County officials won't say whether they're investigating anything like that. Jennings' lawyer Tom Eldon has been quick to say to anyone who'd listen that he's "certain that his client would have been found innocent of any and all charges."

It sounds like a lot of suspects, but what evidence does the YCSD have? We hope it's more than they've said, or they may never catch the killer. Good luck, detectives.

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Hollywood comes to Oxford

Will local businesses profit?

Samantha & Michael Hawke
walk the red carpet at the  Oxford Film Festival

Lots of Oxonians have reported seeing Hollywood movie stars Michael and Samantha Hawke in town in recent days. The celebrity couple known as "Sammich" are said to be in town scouting Oxford as a possible location for Michael Hawke's upcoming film, My Segregation.

According to director Wes Thomas, the film is hoping for a 2020 release date and is tentatively scheduled to begin filming in May.

"It's going to be a period piece set in the '50s," explained Thomas. "Luckily, John Grisham has offered us the use of his home while we look around."

As with most film productions, local businesses, including hotels and storage facilities, will profit from the movie's filming. Oxford Tourism marketing director, Tammy Bradman estimates a big budget film like My Segregation could inject as much as $5 million into the city economy.

Yoknapatawpha County has previously been part of a number of film productions including Leo with Joseph Fiennes, Elisabeth Shue and Sam Shepard, the Coen Brothers film O Brother, Where Art Thou? with George Clooney, Robert Altman's Cookie's Fortune with Glenn Close and Julianne Moore, The People vs. Larry Flynt with Woody Harrelson and Edward Norton, and The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag also with Moore and Penelope Ann Miller.

Eagle-eyed residents have spotted the Hawkes at a number of potential filming locations as well as local eateries. A worker at Holli's Sweet Tooth confirmed that movie star duo stopped by the restaurant and posed for a photograph with the employees.

"They were both super nice and they stayed for a real long time," said Sweet Tooth employee Amy Casey. "Samantha was especially mellow. She told me she was in love with our chocolate ice cream."

The Hawkes will reportedly be in town through the Oxford Film Festival, February 21-24, 2013.

Hawke's contract for My Segregation, a movie based on the diary of a prison guard in Parchman, Mississippi, could make him the highest paid actor in history. His package is said to include a generous percentage of the movie's ticket sales, as well as DVD and action-figure profits, and foreign language rights. And if Hawke agrees to star in the film's two planned sequels, his earnings will multiply.

If Oxford's experience with past films is repeated, local businesses will stand to profit as well.

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Christmas killer captured

Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department officials this morning arrested an employee of Santa's Toy Shoppe in connection with the death of Caroline Jordan, her co-worker.

Nancy Lee Ford, 26, was taken into custody this morning around 9:30, according to Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department Public Information Officer Elizabeth Jones.

Jones said the district attorney's office will seek murder charges in connection with Jordan's December 5 death.

Jordan was found dead after a neighbor called 911 to report seeing someone run over Jordan's mailbox and flee the scene. While investigating that incident, a YCSD officer discovered the body.

Morgan Pierce, owner of Santa's Toy Shoppe, later confessed to hitting the mailbox. Pierce, 35, was also a suspect in Jordan's death before Ford was arrested.

Ford is an Oxford native and a longtime employee of Santa's Toy Shoppe. Jones would not comment on a motive in the murder, but people familiar with Ford say she resented Jordan because of events in the workplace.

"Nancy's always been wound tight," said a co-worker of the two women who asked not to be identified. "It was just a matter of time before she did something crazy, but I never thought she'd go this far."

Ford is currently being held at the Yoknapatawpha County jail and is expected to make her first court appearance tomorrow.

A person answering the phone at Ford's residence declined to answer any questions or comment on the arrest.

Friends and neighbors are still struggling to cope with their loss as well as the shock of the murder and learning the identity of the accused killer.

"This is a terrible tragedy for everyone involved," said Bonnie Duncan, Jordan's neighbor. "But this was Carly's favorite time of year, so we'll all try to focus on the joy of the season as much as we can. It's what she would want."

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Mailbox mishap leads to murder

Santa flees scene

A simple 911 call reporting a knocked-over mailbox late Monday night eventually led to a gruesome discovery and a homicide investigation.

Pearidge Road resident Bonnie Duncan reported seeing a black Chevrolet SUV back into her neighbor's mailbox before speeding away. She claims the driver was dressed as Santa.

When a Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department officer attempted to contact someone inside the 107 Pearidge Road residence where the mailbox had been damaged, he received no response.

Concerned for the occupants, YCSD officers conducted a well-being check of the residence and found the body of a young woman lying on the floor. Within minutes, detectives and other investigative personnel were on the scene.

YCSD Public Information Officer Elizabeth Jones said it appears the woman was the victim of foul play, but she declined to specify how the victim was killed.

"We are treating this case as a homicide," Jones told reporters. "We're not prepared to name a suspect at this stage of the investigation, but we are looking into some significant leads."

Neighbors said they had seen a number of vehicles parked at the house earlier that evening, and they believed the homeowner had been hosting a party.

According to Jones, no one else was at the residence when YCSD officers arrived, but she confirmed that indications of a recent party were present inside the residence.

Authorities are not yet releasing the victim's identity, but neighbors say she was the owner of the house where her body was found.

"She was a good neighbor and a great friend," Duncan said. "I just can't believe she was murdered."

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Lamar Park neighbors celebrate kid heroes

Kudzu Kids Melody, Emma, Zach and Rachel

The neighborhood clubhouse was filled to capacity with both people and their pet dogs when the residents threw a Thank You party for the Kudzu Kids, who reunited them with their beloved pets.

The clubhouse was dressed up to the nines. The decorating committee even included Frisbees in the centerpieces to welcome the dogs back home.

The kids — Zach Burgess, Melody Cheever, Rachel McGowan, and Emma Wooten — spent most of the party mingling with the rescued dogs and their owners.

“Lucky is my partner. He’s much more than just a dog. I missed him terribly,” said Ophelia Rickard with tears in her eyes.

Ms. Rickard wasn’t the only one teary-eyed at the party. She is just one of many neighbors who were fortunate enough to have their dogs rescued by the Kudzu Kids.

Franklin Guyton sat outside while his dog, Champ, snoozed next to him. “I knew something was wrong when I didn’t hear my Champ barking,” he said. “He’s never wandered off.”

Nearby, Andy Osborne watched while his dog, Butch, played on the lawn with the Kudzu Kids. "Butch is a member of our family. My wife and I are forever grateful for the Kudzu Kids and their amazing efforts to return him and all the other dogs.”

Mayor Thomas Winfield was also in attendance. “What these kids did for the neighborhood dog owners was extraordinary,” he said. “I can only hope other children strive to follow in their footsteps and be a contributing part of this wonderful community.”

The community caters

Furthering the community spirit of the event, the neighborhood committee had the party catered by local restaurants The Red Fern and The Sweet Shoppe.

Angela Donalson, owner of The Red Fern, said, “I was honored to be asked to cater for the party. As a dog owner myself, I can only imagine what these families went through with their dogs missing.”

Chloe Morgan, owner of The Sweet Shoppe, was so impressed with the Kudzu Kids, she not only made her famous red velvet cupcakes but also baked and donated special doggie treats for the dogs.

Remarkable rescue rewarded

The neighbors chipped in and had a special Thank You plaque made for the Kudzu Kids. The plaque had a paw print and the names of all the dogs they helped save.

The kids attributed their success in locating the missing pets to their teacher, Dr. William Lamar, and what they learned from him at CSI camp.

The Kudzu Kids would not accept a monetary reward for their efforts, so the dog owners have started a scholarship fund for local kids to attend CSI camp each summer.

Kudzu Kid Zach shrugged off the accolades. “This party was a big surprise for us. We were only doing what was right. We're just happy the dogs have been reunited with their families.”

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