From murder to AI, 8 recent court cases that gripped the Mississippi Coast
The curated articles collectively explore the impact of significant legal issues on communities in South Mississippi. They all underscore the influence of the law in shaping societal norms and accountability in starkly different scenarios.
In one case, a federal judge in Mississippi admitted using AI to draft an incorrect court order, highlighting the challenges and ethical considerations of integrating AI in legal processes. Meanwhile, two men in Biloxi faced severe consequences for a fatal shooting, illustrating the ongoing struggle against gun violence and its toll on communities. Another case involves allegations of child abuse at a daycare, leading to a lawsuit for negligence against the daycare owners, emphasizing the need for strict oversight in childcare settings. Finally, an Airbnb lawsuit against Biloxi accuses the city of unfairly restricting short-term rentals, pointing to tensions between local regulations and business interests.
NO. 1: SOUTH MS MAN GUILTY IN YOUNG MAN’S MURDER. ‘YOU STOOD THERE AND WATCHED,’ JUDGE SAID
Alexis Dwight Preston, 39, of Delisle will serve 45 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and kidnapping. | Published October 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Anita Lee
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NO. 2: MS COAST MAN CHARGED IN 2009 DISAPPEARANCE OF EX-GIRLFRIEND IN MASSACHUSETTS
A man from Ocean Springs has been charged with murder after prosecutors in Massachusetts accused him of killing an ex-girlfriend who disappeared sixteen years ago. | Published October 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Martha Sanchez
NO. 3: FEDERAL JUDGE IN MISSISSIPPI ADMITS AI USED FOR NONSENSICAL ORDER IN DEI CASE
A federal judge in Mississippi has admitted that his staff used artificial intelligence to draft a flawed court order, after months of speculation and an inquiry from a U.S. | Published October 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Devna Bose and Taylor Vance
NO. 4: TWO MEN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR BILOXI SHOOTING THAT KILLED 1, INJURED ANOTHER
Judge Randi Mueller has sentenced two South Mississippi men to 28 years in prison for second-degree murder and aggravated assault in an August 26, 2023, shooting that left one man dead and another injured, District Attorney Crosby Parker announced in a release. | Published October 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Margaret Baker
NO. 5: HARRISON COUNTY TEACHER FACES FELONY CHARGES FOR ABUSE OF SPECIAL ED STUDENTS
A judge found probable cause for a lower court judge to issue a warrant for the arrest of a Lyman Elementary School teacher accused of felonious abuse of three special needs children — two boys and one girl — ranging in age from 6 to 8 years old. | Published October 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Margaret Baker
NO. 6: ‘IT’S A SHOTGUN, HONEY.’ SOUTH MS MAN SENTENCED FOR KILLING WIFE DURING 911 CAL
A George County man will spend the rest of his life in prison after a jury convicted him of first-degree murder in the shooting death of his wife — a killing that happened while she was on the phone with 911 pleading for protection. | Published October 31, 2025 | Read Full Story by Margaret Baker
NO. 7: MS COAST WOMAN INDICTED, DAYCARE SUED OVER ABUSE OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD
Jessica “Camay” Brown is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages and other relief in a lawsuit over the alleged abuse of her nonverbal, special needs son at the former Faithfully Yours Learning Center, Inc., in Gautier. | Published November 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Margaret Baker
NO. 8: AIRBNB LAWSUIT CLAIMS A BILOXI CONSPIRACY ILLEGALLY RESTRICTS SHORT-TERM RENTALS
Airbnb has filed a lawsuit in federal court that accuses the city of Biloxi of conspiring with the Mississippi Hotel Lodging Association to “severely restrict” short-term rentals, driving up hotel prices, and limiting flexibility for consumers and residents. | Published November 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Anita Lee
The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.