BRANDON, MS (WLBT) -
Many of the gruesome details involving a Rankin County murder were unveiled during a preliminary court hearing Tuesday morning. Murder suspects Walter Burton and Jermaine Tyler appeared before Rankin County Judge Kent McDaniel. The two are charged with capital murder in the execution style murder of 37 year-old Leslie Sheppard.
On September 27th, the two allegedly broke into the Sheppard's father's home on Star Road where she was shot and killed. Tim Lawless, an investigator for the Rankin County Sheriff's Department was one of the first officials on the scene. On Tuesday he described what he saw. "As I walked right inside the door I looked to the right and saw a white female lying on the floor and she was face down it was a large quantity of blood," says Lawless.
Sheppard was shot once in the back of the head. "It appeared the bullet exited her left eye above her forehead and went into the living room floor," say Lawless.
After several days without any suspects, Tyler and Burton were arrested after investigators linked them to the crime through a stolen cell phone. The two told authorities they'd come to Rankin County to burglarize homes. When they got to Sheppard's home they didn't think anyone was at the residence. Tyler has confessed to shooting Sheppard. He says Burton told him not to leave a witness. Tyler told Lawless he made Sheppard face down before he pulled the 9 mm pistol trigger from about a foot away.
Lawless says, "he put a blanket or a shawl over her head and he said that he had shot her execution style to the back of the head."
Acquaintances of the suspects wouldn't comment on what was said in court.
Rankin County District Attorney Michael Guest says Burton and Tyler could face the death penalty. Guest says, "we spoke to the family a few minutes ago and told them we'd make that decision sometime early next year hopefully getting this case to a grand jury early next month."
The duo could go before a grand jury as early as late November. Guest expects an arraignment by the first of the year.
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