TCHULA — A teenager has been charged as an adult with second-degree murder in connection with a Tchula man’s death last month.
Devonte Pepper, 16, whose address was not available, remained in the Leflore County Jail this morning. He is charged in the May 19 death of Clarence Blue, 49. Pepper also is facing a change of breaking and entering in an unrelated case.
The murder charge, brought by Tchula Police Chief Kenneth Hampton, has befuddled other authorities in Holmes County, however.
Coroner Dexter Howard said Blue died from arterial sclerosis — a buildup of plaque in the arteries — according to an autopsy performed by the Mississippi Crime Lab.
Howard said Blue’s family claimed that he died as the result of foul play. However, Howard said, “He didn’t die of any injuries. He died from arterial sclerosis.”
Holmes County Sheriff Willie March, who faxed the autopsy results to Hampton, was at a loss for words this morning.
“I don’t know where you go from there. If the police want a second autopsy, they can request it. We’re not investigating it at all,” March said.
Hampton said Monday he disagreed with the autopsy’s conclusions about Blue’s death.
“He might have died of a heart attack, but that’s not what he went to the hospital for. ... The ambulance picked him up because of the beating he sustained,” Hampton said.
Last Thursday, the chief posted a message on the Police Department’s Facebook page, apparently in reference to Blue’s death, that created a stir.
The post used a combination of bravado and profane references.
“I GOT A MESSAGE FOR A MURDERER!!!!” the post begins.
“Do you really think you can commit MURDER in Tchula Mississippi and get away with it? ... You’ll never see the light of day, who the f*** do you think you’re f***ing with? I’m the Chief of police, King Kong ain’t got s*** on me!!!”
Hampton, the town’s chief since last September, said that although he is “getting a lot of flak” about his unfiltered use of social media, he is unfazed by the criticism.
“If they don’t like it, they can kiss my grits,” he said.
Hampton said Pepper and other unnamed suspects gained entry to Blue’s home at Delta Manor Apartments on Mississippi 12.
“I’m not sure if they broke in or if they were let in. That part is unclear. I’ve got testimony that places him at the scene,” the chief said.
Hampton said a pool of blood and a knife were found at the scene along with Blue’s wheelchair, which had a blood-stained pillow on it.
The chief said he placed Pepper in the Leflore County Jail because the Holmes County Jail was “all packed.”
Hampton said Pepper is also facing a charge of breaking into and entering the residence of Eddie Conner at Lakeview Manor Apartments on Lakeview Drive. Hampton said that crime occurred a couple of days after Blue’s death.
• Contact Bob Darden at 581-7239 or bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
