Man charged in deaths of duo at residence in Jackson area

CLINTON — Authorities say a central Mississippi couple have been found dead, and a man who had a business relationship with them is charged in their deaths.

Interim Clinton Police Chief Mike Warren told The Clarion-Ledger that the two apparently were beaten or stabbed to death. He did not release their identities, pending notification of relatives.

Warren said 47-year-old Willie Williams of Clinton is charged with murder after calling Jackson police early Friday and telling them he had killed the two. Warren said it appears the two were killed late Thursday.

It was not immediately clear if Williams has an attorney.

Authorities say the killing stems from an argument Williams had with the couple over work he did for them at their home.

“What we know is that he called JPD (Jackson Police Department) at about 1 or 2 a.m. (Friday) and claimed he had killed a man over here,” Warren said.

The man didn’t know the address, Warren said, “but he told them that he would lead them to the house.”

Jackson police picked up the man in the Terry Road area of Jackson, where the man said he had walked from the couple’s home. The couple live in the vicinity of Bellevue and Brookwood streets, Warren said.

Jackson officers met up with Clinton police at a restaurant and they went to the couple’s home. He estimates the couple were killed Thursday about 10 p.m., Warren said.

“This is not a random killing,” Warren said. “He claims he went to their house to collect money, and that they got into an argument. He said he got upset and killed them and then he walked to Jackson.”