Leola Jordan Murder Case: The long-standing mystery surrounding the murder of a grandmother in 1998 has taken a significant step towards resolution, as “Cold Justice” and DNA evidence resulted in the apprehension of a potential culprit.
A park in Picayune, Mississippi, has been named after Leola Jordan, a much-loved grandmother and former schoolteacher tragically murdered by a brutal stabbing over two decades ago.
For 23 years, the community of Picayune has been haunted by the brutal murder of Leola Jordan, a 91-year-old grandmother who was found dead in her bed on June 30, 1998.
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Leola Jordan Murder: Investigation Timeline
One of the episodes of “Cold Justice” on Oxygen features prosecutor Kelly Siegler and homicide investigator Tonya Rider as they team up with local authorities in Picayune to investigate Leola Jordan’s murder case.
Picayune Police Department Chief Freddy Drennan had informed Siegler that the homicide case had not been forgotten, and he considered the resources that “Cold Justice” provided as “a godsend.”
Siegler and Rider worked alongside Picayune Police Department Captain Rhonda Poche-Johnson and former Detective Holly Krantz to review the facts of the case, discovering that Leola Jordan had endured 41 knife wounds to her face, neck, and hands.
During their investigation, they learned that a knife had disappeared from a block in the victim’s kitchen and that Leola Jordan’s purses had been rifled through, pointing to a potential robbery motive.
It was revealed that a knife had gone missing from a block in the victim’s kitchen.
The fact that Leola’s purses had been rifled through indicated that robbery might have been a possible motive. Still, investigators found hundreds of dollars in the home, leading them to conclude that the perpetrator had left the scene hastily.
The investigative team had preserved the victim’s nightgown, a pocketbook spattered with blood, and scrapings from under her nails for DNA analysis.
Additionally, investigators discovered a spare key that belonged to Jordan’s grandson, Sergio “Scooby” Williams, on a kitchen cabinet in the victim’s home.
Sergio and his mother, Wanda Williams, had resided with Jordan for a while before the murder, which could account for the key’s presence.
Who Killed 91-Year-Old Woman? Suspect And Charges
Sergio Williams, 47, was charged with the murder of his grandmother on May 9, 2021, which happened to be Mother’s Day.
Two suspects are brought to light during the “Cold Justice” investigation. One was Sergio, who had been inconsistent about his alibi for the night of the murder, much like his mother.
Another individual of interest was Jonas Bates, a close friend of Sergio’s, who claimed to have spent time with him on the night of the murder. Bates reportedly confessed in a letter to killing Jordan.
In an interview with law enforcement, Sergio’s former girlfriend details his explosive temper and drug use.
She also mentioned that on the morning after the murder, he was doing laundry, which raised suspicion that he was trying to destroy any evidence.
Before questioning Sergio, investigators analyzed the DNA evidence. While the victim’s fingernail scrapings and white purse yield no male DNA, Sergio’s DNA is found on her nightgown.
Siegler dismissed Bates, 39, as a suspect, emphasizing that the evidence incriminating Sergio was powerful and sorrowful. The proof was deemed strong enough by prosecutors to justify an arrest warrant for Sergio Williams.
According to a news story from May 2021, Johnson believed the case could have been solved much earlier if DNA evidence had been available in 1998.
She added that she was grateful for the opportunity to finally solve Leola Jordan’s murder case and bring justice to her.
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