Family pleads for tips in unsolved Coast homicide. ‘We just want justice for his death.’
Cameron Perryman’s family believes he became the target of killing in a robbery after he attempted to catch a ride from George County’s Benndale community to his mother’s home in Beaumont, Texas.
“He was my only son,” his father, Otis Perryman said, before a press conference Thursday morning. “We miss him terribly and we just want justice for his death.”
His son, 33, was a George County High School graduate who had been working for several years as a supervisor at V.T. Halter Marine in Pascagoula when he was shot to death and his body dumped in a wooded area at the edge of a roadside stop .
A hunter found his body in the early-morning hours of Jan. 1 at the edge of De Soto National Park in Greene County. His family had last heard from him in texts and phone calls on New Year’s Eve.
On Thursday, Greene County Sheriff Stanley McLeod, George County sheriff’s deputies, state troopers and Lori Massey, head of Mississippi Coast Crimestoppers, announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
About 15 of Perryman’s relatives gathered Thursday with authorities on the steps of the George County courthouse for the announcement to also plead with the public to call any information.
“Cameron was a very outgoing person and he was all about his family,” his aunt Nadine Perryman Peyton said. “He would do anything for his family and always greeted them with a hug.”
Cameron’s family said his vehicle wasn’t working on New Year’s Eve, and he was trying to catch a ride. The family said they believe, based on conversations in the community and with law enforcement, that he was killed in the Benndale community and his body dumped at the roadside park.
Sheriff McLeod said his deputies, with assistance from surrounding agencies, have been looking into tips they’ve received .
McLeod confirmed Cameron may have been robbed, but said that and other information remains a part of the investigation. In addition, he said, other details, including whether the victim had any defense wounds, are not yet being released.
McLeod and George County deputies encouraged the public to provide any tips they may have even if it’s information they are not sure is relevant, McLeod said.
Cameron was one of four siblings and the only boy in the family. He spent much of his time off hanging with relatives and helping them or others out with anything they might need, from clothing to other personal items, relatives said.
“You know, Cameron was always working, and he had never been in any trouble,” said his cousin, Karlene Moody. “You never heard anything bad about him. “
His mother and others in the family wore shirts with Cameron’s photo on them and inscriptions calling for justice for his death.
“My son was about to really live his life when he was taken from us,” his bereaved mother said. “It’s about to be another New Year and we still don’t have any answers. We don’t even like New Year’s anymore because of this.”
State Rep. Douglas McLeod was on hand as well to recall the young man who he said worked for him at McLeod Tire Service off and on for a few years beginning at the age of 15. He described him as a hard-working young man and called his killing “a senseless death” that needs to be solved.
The Perryman family is urging the public to help authorities solve the murder and bring closure to their family.
In the meantime, his friends and relatives say they will promote the signs Crime Stoppers is posting in the area about the $5,000 reward for leads in the case.
“We won’t stop fighting for answers,” Moody said. “We just want some kind of closure so we can rest right.”
Cameron Perryman was laid to rest in a private family cemetery in George County’s Benndale community.
To report confidential tips, call Crime Stoppers at 877-787-5898 or log on to mscoastcrimesetoppers.com to leave a tip.
