Suspect in Travel Lodge death extradited back to Ocean Springs

A suspect in a September homicide has been extradited from Louisiana back to Ocean Springs, where he is awaiting an initial appearance.

Johns, 37, of Columbia, Tennessee, was identified as a suspect in the Sept. 4, 2017, death of Christopher Rochelle, also of Columbia, at the Travel Lodge Hotel in Ocean Springs.

Rochelle had been shot in the head. A witness to the shooting identified Johns as the suspect during an interview with Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.

Johns was found in a garbage can after a police pursuit in Lafayette, Louisiana. He has been jailed there since Sept. 7, 2017, awaiting extradition.

Johns will have his initial appearance before Judge Matthew Mestayer. He is being held at the Ocean Springs jail.

This story was originally published December 14, 2017 at 8:29 AM with the headline "Suspect in Travel Lodge death extradited back to Ocean Springs."