Arrest made in double homicide
Apr. 30—Meridian Police Department announced a suspect is in custody Tuesday in the deaths of an older Meridian couple.
Miles Herrington, 97, and his wife, Ina Herrington, 94, were found dead in their home in the 4800 block of 36th Avenue by police responding to a possible home invasion call shortly before 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 25.
Police Chief Deborah Naylor Young said Maurice Christie, 28, of San Antonio, Texas, is charged in connection with the deaths. He faces two counts of capital murder, which carry sentences of life in prison or the death penalty.
"Investigators have worked tirelessly, long hours, trying to solve this case," Young said. "And we're happy to report that we do have a suspect in custody."
Records from the Kemper County Jail, which contracts with MPD to house the department's detainees, show Christie was previously booked Monday for six counts of possession of a controlled substance.
The homicide investigation is still ongoing, Young said, and police are limited in what information they can make public. No information about what led to the Herringtons' deaths or why Christie was there has been released, however, Young said no connection linking Christie to the family has been found.
"What I can tell you is that he did not have any connection with the family," she said. "I cannot disclose why he was in the neighborhood, but he did not have any connection with the Herrington family."
The bodies of both victims were sent for autopsies, and MPD is still waiting on the results.
Young said she wanted to recognize the hard work of the department's detectives, patrol officers and others who put in the work needed to bring the arrest. Officers don't often receive recognition for their work, she said, and she wants to make sure their efforts are noted.
"A lot of times, Meridian Police Department detectives, patrol officers, do not get recognized for doing a great job, and I'm recognizing them right now because they did an awesome job," she said. "A lot of times they're overlooked for the work that they do, but they did an outstanding job."
MPD wants to thank the FBI for its assistance, Young said, as well as members of the community who helped in the investigation.
"Without all of those people involved, we would not have been here today to make this announcement to you," she said.
Contact Thomas Howard at thoward@themeridianstar.com
