Four face murder charges

Two more suspects charged in the murder of Jordan Stewart were arrested Monday night in Warren County, bringing the total to four.

Warrants had been issued in Marshall County for Wanzie Eugene Brown, 18, of the 700 block of Old Forge Road, Southaven, and Jemeka Katrina Thomas, 18, of the 1300 block of Mary Lane Ave., Memphis, Tenn., according to sheriff Kenny Dickerson. The two suspects were identified over the July Fourth weekend by Maj. Kelly McMillen and agents with the Memphis/Shelby County Gang Unit. Both were arrested about midnight Monday by local authorities at a hospital in the Vicksburg area, he said.

“The continuing investigation led to a tip and officers there responded to the hospital,” Dickerson said.

“The female suspect (Thomas) was apparently at the hospital with an undetermined medical issue. The male suspect (Brown) fled at the hospital but was arrested at the hospital without incident.”

He said both suspects, Brown and Thomas, were to be transported back to Marshall County on Tuesday “for immediate court action regarding the capital murder charges that exist on both of them.”

Dickerson also said the white vehicle that Brown and Thomas were traveling in is believed to be the one used when the murder was committed.

“It is being brought back to the Mississippi Highway Patrol crime lab in Batesville to be processed for evidence,” the sheriff said.

Stewart, of Crestview Circle in Olive Branch, was found shot to death in a vehicle on June 29 at the end of Beechtree Cove, east of Warsaw in Marshall County.

Two other suspects in the case were previously arrested, and they are in jail. Drenique Montgomery, 22, of the 4400 block of Seven Valley Cove, Memphis, as reported in last week’s newspaper, was the first suspect arrested in the case. He is being held in Memphis on capital murder charges, Dickerson said, and awaits extradition to Marshall County.

Another suspect, Brianna Young, 18, of the 6000 block of Coral Way, Olive Branch, is also charged with capital murder and is being held in Marshall County jail in connection with Stewart’s death, Dickerson said.

Young made an initial appearance in justice court last week. After bond arguments were made before judge Mae Garrison, the initial request by law enforcement for a $500,000 bond was later set at $100,000, Dickerson said.

Garrison ruled that if Young made bond, she would have to wear an ankle monitor at all times prior to returning to face charges.

If Young is unable to make bond, she is entitled to a preliminary hearing because she was incarcerated at the time, the sheriff said.

Garrison ruled there is sufficient evidence to bind Young over to the next action of the Marshall County grand jury regarding her charges on capital murder for alleged involvement in Stewart’s death.

One other unnamed suspect is still being sought in the capital murder case.