WCBI NEWS AT 10 - 11/17/2020

WCBI NEWS AT 10 - 11/17/2020

Show open show open show open show open a cold case is solved.

And, the suspect is now headed to prison for the rest of his life.

Michael devaughn pleaded guilty late this afternoon to the murder of betty jones of starkville.

A second charge of the sexual battery of kathryn crigler was dismissed for the deal.

Devaughn has agreed to life in prison without parole.

This is closure for family members who have waited 30 years for justice.

I spoke with family members and lead investigators on the case after today's hearing.

Here's what they had to say... what started in this house 30 years ago... ends today in this lowndes county court room.

"are you guilty of capital murder?....."

"yes, sir."

Jennifer taylor is the niece of betty jones, the woman murdered by devaughn, she says this moment has been a long time coming for family members.

"anniversaries come and go.

Developments maybe start happening and then fall through, but this was done correctly by bill lott of starkville police department.

I can't speak enough about bill lott.

He kept his word.

He never gave up.

He saw it through and he got it done and the guy got arrested and today justice has been served."

Bill lott-- the lead investigator, says cracking this cold case wasn't easy.

"justice delayed is justice denied.

30 years is a long time to wait.

I'm so happy for them."

Michael devaughn was arrested two years ago thanks to dna evidence preserved at the crime scene..

But lott says today in court..

Was still hard to believe.

"he said 'you've got your guy.'

I had heard 50 or 60 no's on dna that i couldn't accept the fact that i'd got him.

Then my wheels... then i said 'oh my gosh.

You're telling me that i've got him."

Today was also very emotional for julia crigler-holt... the granddaughter kathryn crigler, who was sexually assaulted by devaughn and left for dead.

She says she just wanted the opportunity to look devaughn in the eyes..

And deliver a message.

"i didn't think that he would look at me, but i'm so glad.

His eyes and my eyes were there the whole time.

So i really think that he heard me.

I hope he knows and maybe that's something.

I hope he heard me, that i forgive him."

Forgiveness..

A sentiment that a few people at today's hearing..

Aren't ready for just yet.

"just thinking about an 81 year- old granddmother having to be raped after her friend was just murdered... i don't have that grace just yet."

Today's sentencing is the result of hard work, determination, and a vow to never give up.

"the night it happened, i vowed that i would never give up until something was done and this case was solved.

My aunt was our family rock.

She was a fun loving caring woman.

We come from an extremely close- knit family and i wasn't going to let anything go until we could have some sort of resolution."

"it's been a great day.

A great, great day."

Starkville investigators, used new resources like ancestry.com, and dna science, at parabon labs in virginia ,and at the scales dna lab ,in jackson, to find devaughn.

Tommorrow we speak with former starkivlle police chief bud maxey, former starkville police chief david lindley, and former oktibbeha county sheriff dolph bryant about how they worked together to preserve the evidence..

And how that evidence played a roll in bringing this case to a close.

First look stinger first look summary: dry and sunny weather continues for the rest of the work week and perhaps most of the coming weekend.

Some rain is possible late sunday and monday with a cold front.

Tuesday night: clear and cold.

Lows in the low 30s.

A frost or freeze is likely.

Wednesday & thursday: sunny.

Highs in the mid 60s.

Lows in the 30s.

Each year---mississippi's governor releases an executive budget recommendation.

It's a way of letting the public and members of the legislature know where the governor's funding priorities first look summary: dry and sunny weather continues for the rest of the work week and perhaps most of the coming weekend.

Some rain is possible late sunday and monday with a cold front.

Tuesday night: clear and cold.

Lows in the low 30s.

A frost or freeze is likely.

Wednesday & thursday: sunny.

Highs in the mid 60s.

Lows in the 30s.

Each year---mississippi's governor releases an executive budget recommendation.

It's a way of letting the public and members of the legislature know where the governor's funding priorities stand.

Courtney ann jackson worked to learn if governor tate reeves' ideas are in line with what lawmakers want.

We asked lawmakers if they're on board with the governor's proposal to eliminate the income tax---phasing it out over the next ten years.

"my reaction was gosh...where are we going to get the money to plug that hole?

It's about a third of the budget."

Speaker philip gunn pointing out that the house has discussed doing away with the tax before.

"we'd obviously have to look at the amount of revenue that that would effect and i suspect it will be a combination of finding alternative revenue but also implementing some cuts, as well."

Reeves also wants to create a "patriotic education fund"---3 million dollars in grants available to schools and non-profits.

"to fight back against the socialist indoctrination that some would attempt in this country."

But there's a mix of reactions---mostly along party lines about whether it's needed.

"i'm for patriotic education that focuses on the greatness of america.

Have we had problems here in america?

Of course we have.

Every country has but america is constantly striving to better itself, to better its people and to better our society."

"it's rhetoric.

It's racist.

It's disrespectful.

I understand that 2020 has given us some crazy thing with the pandemic and everything else that's been going on.

This is absolutely the most ridiculous thing i've ever heard since i've been in this building."

The ms association of educators questioning what's not included.

"a campaign promise was made for a teacher pay raise and i saw not mention of that in the budget plan."

Governor reeves office tells us his office strongly believes that they can still find the funds for teacher pay raises.

They point to conservative revenue estimates and say the raise will be a priority as revenues continue to beat expectations.

Courtney ann jackson, wcbi news.

One person is dead following a two- car crash in tupelo this afternoon.

Police responded to the accident around 2:30 at the intersection of coley road and old belden circle.

The driver of one of the cars died at the scene.

The other driver was not seriously injured, but was taken to the hospital.

The accident remains under investigation.

Stinger cw4 contiuing coverage stinger christmas comes early for lowndes county school district students.

State lawmakers approved the cares act funding... making more technology available for learning.

Wcbi's bobby martinez talks with educators and legislators on what this means for the district moving forward..

Help has arrived... sot - sam allison - superintendent - lowndes county school district..

"although this pandemic has brought a lot of challenges..

It has brought some positive stuff through the fact that our legislators were able to work together.."

Just over four point four million dollars was provided to the lowndes county school district through the cares act..

And with that money... superintendent sam allison says administrators were able to purchase apple devices for students..

Sot - sam allison - superintendent - lowndes county school district "well we were very fortunate that we were one to one district - but we were in dire need of new devices and the financial situation was you know, we were going to have to move towards that.

So it just came at a perfect time.

The need for devices was really shown during the virtual time at the end of last year."

Allison says these new devices will help with students success long term... sot - sam allison - superintendent - lowndes county school district "whether they're at school not at school they can send their assignments and their videos.

It's also a great preparation because colleges have been there for a while and being able to teach out students how to use their student management system, how to submit work online and how to communicate with your teachers online."

Those who played a major role in making this happen.

Were local representatives and senators like angela turner ford from district 16.

She says there are more issues that need to be addressed..

But this is a step in the right direction..

Sot - angela turner-ford- state senator - district 16 "a lot of issues are still in progress and being resolved.

But at least this is a start to make sure that we have good devices that are in place for the students and faculty."

Sot - charles younger - state senator - district 17 "it gives them and the teachers, a big advantage if they are staying at home, if they are not able to come to school, if they are in quarantine, these virtual devices gives them an opportunity to be able to learn from home."

Reporting in lowndes county bobby martinez wcbi news... help has arrived... sot - sam allison - superintendent - lowndes county school district..

"although this pandemic has brought a lot of challenges..

It has brought some bobby martinez wcbi news... student from kindergarten to fourth grade will receive new ipads..

And students from 5th to 12th will receive macbooks.

Stinger wx open summary: dry and sunny weather continues for the rest of the work week and perhaps most of the coming weekend.

Some rain is possible late sunday and monday with a cold front.

Tuesday night: clear and cold.

Lows in the low 30s.

A frost or freeze is likely.

Wednesday & thursday: sunny.

Highs in the mid 60s.

Lows in the 30s.

Friday & saturday: sunny to mostly sunny.

Highs from the upper 60s to lower 70s.

Lows in the 40s.

Sunday: variably cloudy.

Highs in the 70s.

Some rain could occur late in the day and into the evening.

Thanksgiving week: the pattern will be more active overall with several chances of rain and perhaps some storms too.

Rain is possible monday with a weak front in the area.

Additional rain could fall on tuesday & wednesday as an upper disturbance crosses the deep south.

Some rain could also linger into thanksgiving day and black friday but it remains uncertain.

Odds appear to favor a relatively summary: dry and sunny weather continues for the rest of the work week and perhaps most of the coming weekend.

Some rain is possible late sunday and monday with a cold front.

Tuesday night: clear and cold.

Lows in the low 30s.

A frost or freeze is likely.

Wednesday & thursday: sunny.

Highs in the mid 60s.

Lows in the 30s.

Friday & saturday: sunny to mostly sunny.

Highs from the upper 60s to lower 70s.

Lows in the 40s.

Sunday: variably cloudy.

Highs in the 70s.

Some rain could occur late in the day and into the evening.

Thanksgiving week: the pattern will be more active overall with several chances of rain and perhaps some storms too.

Rain is possible monday with a weak front in the area.

Additional rain could fall on tuesday & wednesday as an upper disturbance crosses the deep south.

Some rain could also linger into thanksgiving day and black friday but it remains uncertain.

Odds appear to favor a relatively mild holiday this year.

Follow @wcbiweather on facebook, twitter, instagram, and the wcbi news app stinger cash 3 lottery gfx and government health experts and government officials are warning people in the u.s. not to get together with people from other households for the holidays as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations surge all across the country.

But thousands of colleges students will begin heading back home this weekend for thanksgiving break.

Karin caifa explains what some officials are hoping to do to mitigate the risk.

Pkg whether virtual learning or in- person classes, many college students flocked back to campus for the fall semester.

Now, it's time for them to go back home... during the worst coronavirus spike this country has seen.

Some states like connecticut are issuing guidelines for those coming back home from out of state gov.

Ned lamont/ -d- connecticut: "1, a 14-day quarantine, either before you leave or after you come back.

2, get tested.

Again for the elderly, those most at risk, keep your distance, wear your mask.

Tell your grandparents from a distance how much you love them."

Governor ned lamont says while they can't enforce these quarantine guidelines, they are hoping residents will use their good judgment.

The university of arizona is offering covid tests to students and staff from nov.9th -nov.

25 before they head home, and after thanksgiving classes will stinger the nba draft is one day away... next in sports when a few bulldogs are expecting to hear their names called on the biggest stage spx open ááátake monitor gfxááá the nba draft is one day away... multiple mississippi state bulldogs... robert woodard and reggie perry... are expecting to hear their names called... it's just a matter of when... both players aren't going very far for their special night... robert will be with family and friends watching and waiting anxiously in columbus..

While reggie will be in starkville... multiple nba mock drafts are projecting robert to be selected anywhere in the late first to early second round range... while reggie is projected to hear his name called some time in the early to mid second round... both guys have been waiting years for this opportunity and are ready to contribute to an nba club right away 00-05 :16-:31 woodward says: this whole process has taken so much self discipline.

It has taken me to a level i never thought i could reach mentally as well as physically.

It's been very long but fun as well.

It's had its obstacles but i have enjoyed it the whole way perry says: just my body and i have been going against grown men and that's a big thing.

Also how high my skill level is which is another thing.

You can watch the draft on espn it begins at seven o'clock ááátake mon gfxááá ole miss announced head basketball coach kermit davis tested positive for covid-19... he re- tested tuesday and while those confirmation results are still pending... if they come back positive..

He will remain in isolation and miss the first two games of the season... before davis tested positive... rebels athletics director keith carter voiced concerns he has about the basketball season carter says: in basketball when your 15 guys and coaches it's a lot harder.

I worry that a lot of two positives triggers the whole team being in quarantine for 14 days.

I think it's difficult to go through the whole season without disruption.

We will do what we need to doa nd the issue with 14 days in n basketball is that;s 14 days.

There's not enough built in time at the end of the schedule to make those days up.

The rebels season begins next wednesday at home against those days up.

The rebels season begins next wednesday at home against central arkansas ááátake mon gfxááá mississippi state football will be returning to the gridiron this saturday... taking on 13th ranked georgia in athens... state hasn't played in a football game since november 7th's 24-17 win over vanderbilt... last week's matchup with auburn was postponed due to covid-19... and state was one positive test away from not being able to play against the commodores that week... mike leach's team has been undermanned at practice for a few weeks now and it's been tough for mike leach's bunch leach says: it's impossible to get the same amount of work in.

There's a big difference between practicing with a full load compared to a handful.

You try to get reps and limit it.

If you're short a few positions it limits what others can do in regards to a team setting.

You try to do what you can ááátake gfxááá let's take a look at some of the big time playoff matchups we've got this week... after defeating madison central last week oxford will be taking on ááátake gfxááá let's take a look at some of the big time playoff matchups we've got this week... after defeating madison central last week oxford will be taking on hernando.... after a late rally against holmes county central the green wave of west point will take on grenada... they'll play the winner of neshowba central and ridgeland if they win... itawamba taking on corinth... if they win... they'll play the winner of pontotoc and louisville..

That one is certainly a must see matchup... after amory's comeback win against choctaw county the panthers will take on winona in our game of the week..

Noxubee county will take on north panola following its win over nettleton some more for you east union and north side... calhoun city and east webster... after a statement 62-0 win over ashland tcps takes on biggersville... nanih waiya will battle baldwyn... hubbertville and pickens county... gordo will take on west limestone on thursday evening... and aliceville will host mars hill bible..

ááátake gfxááá let's check out this week's lineman of the week... it's going to the columbus falcons... they took down saltillo 21-7 in their final matchup of the season... not only did their defensive line dominate in that game but their defense played very well down the stretch... only allowing 13 points per game in their final three... wins for columbus this year came against new hope and saltillo and they were in a lot of the games they played this year... losing by only one possession in four contests... columbus takes home lineman of the week for week 11... still to come..

Chief meteorologist keith gibson returns with tonights last look.

You are watching wcbi news at ten.

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