A look at some deadly domestic violence cases in South Mississippi
This list includes eight domestic violence–related murder cases in 2015, two in 2014, one in 2012 and one in 2011:
Sept. 13-14: Delta State University professor Shannon Lamb shot to death his live-in girlfriend, Amy Prentiss, 45, at their Gautier home, then drove to Delta State University the following day and shot to death fellow professor Ethan Schmidt, 39, in his office. Lamb killed himself the day he killed Schmidt. There was no romantic relationship between Prentiss and Schmidt. Instead, police said, Lamb did not like Schmidt. Relatives of Prentiss said Lamb blamed the professor for Lamb’s failure to get tenure at the university.
Aug. 31: Chester Jerome Raine, 52, went to the WIC Food Distribution Center in Pascagoula and shot and killed his estranged wife, Sonja Wells-Raine, 47, then himself. He died a few hours later and authorities ruled the killings murder-suicide. Sonja Wells-Raine’s sister, Tonia Wells, died Feb. 19, 2009, after her on-again-off-again boyfriend broke into her Moss Point home and shot her to death with an assault rifle before killing himself.
Aug. 26: Michelle Moore, 44, shot and killed her husband, Biloxi firefighter Lewis “Ricky” Moore, at their Vancleave home. Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell said deputies arrived at the domestic violence call and found Moore dead. No arrest was made pending a grand jury review of the evidence.
Aug. 24: Percy Fayard shot and killed his estranged wife, Denise Fayard, 33, then turned the gun on himself. A passer-by discovered the couple dead in a car in Gulfport. Police ruled the deaths murder-suicide.
June 8: Myron Dewan Hall, 39, shot his wife, Varnasia Rena Frost, 28, at a motel room in Jackson County and then shot himself. Authorities ruled the deaths murder-suicide.
April 11: Kenneth Fanning, 29, was stabbed to death in an alleged argument over a vehicle with his brother-in-law at a child’s birthday party in Hancock County. Fanning’s brother-in-law, Clinten Michael Dryer, 32, of Ocean Springs, was arrested.
March 6: Monda Jewess, 59, shot and killed her husband, Eric Jewess, 58, at their Ocean Springs home. Police ruled the deaths murder-suicide.
Feb. 17: Ronald Montecalvo, 76, called police to say he shot his wife, Jesua Montecalvo, also 76. He then shot himself before police arrived at their Ocean Springs home. Police ruled the deaths murder-suicide.
March 2014: Patrick Norman, 42, shot and his killed his ex-girlfriend, Amanda Salas, and shot and wounded her current boyfriend, Christopher Prevost, just days after she got a protection order against Norman. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department got the protection order but were unable to find Norman to serve him before the shooting. Norman committed suicide. Police ruled the killings a murder, attempted murder and suicide.
Dec. 14, 2014: James Andrew Brown, 30, shot his former in-laws, Cheria Dixon, 64, and Horace Dixon, 67, on Dec. 10, 2014, while they were in a car in George County. Horace Dixon died at the scene and Cheria Dixon died a few days later. Brown committed suicide. The deaths were ruled a double murder and suicide.
April 2012: Marty Saucier argued with his family before he shot and killed his parents, Marsha “Kay” Saucier, 54, and Kenneth “Kenny” Saucier, 62, and his younger brother, Brandon “Matt” Saucier. Marty Saucier shot himself but survived and was arrested in the killings.
May 24, 2011: Houston Jones shot to death his step-grandfather, Leo Landrum, 64, at the home they shared in Jackson County. A jury convicted Jones of murder.
— Margaret Baker
This story was originally published February 20, 2016 at 7:39 PM with the headline "A look at some deadly domestic violence cases in South Mississippi ."