Jury returns capital murder verdict

The murder trial of James Earl Dortch Jr., last week ended in a Marshall County jury returning of a verdict of capital murder in the Oct. 31, 2021 shooting of a California man at the Dollar General Store on Taska Road in Mt. Pleasant.

The trial, held in Marshall County Circuit Court, took place with the honorable Gray Tollison at the bench.

Dortch wad sentenced to life without parole because of his habitual offender status, said sheriff Kenny Dickerson. He was immediately turned over to the Mississippi Department of Corrections and taken to Rankin County.

The victim, who had just returned to Mississippi from California to take care of his mother, had gone to Dollar General to purchase cleaning supplies when he was shot outside the store, the sheriff said.

He was shot in the parking lot at about 2 p.m.

Dortch took the victim’s car and drove at a high rate of speed north on Taska Road, to Highway 72, turned eastbound and exited 72 onto Highway 311 when he lost control of the car, fled on foot and was arrested a short time later near the Mt. Pleasant Fire Department, Dickerson said.

Dortch was charged with capital murder and denied bond in Marshall County justice court, and later indicted by a grand jury.

Dortch was taken to DeSoto County where he faced felony charges and was held there before being returned to Marshall County where he was held until trial.

Dickerson said the jury deliberated 25 minutes or less before returning the verdict of capital murder.

Tollison sentenced Dortch to life without parole, Thursday Aug. 29, the sheriff said.

Dickerson said eyewitness testimony was key to getting a verdict. He said witnesses described in detail the clothing Dortch was still wearing when arrested.

Dortch was also positively identified by two witnesses in the courtroom as the person who did the shooting.

“I thank my investigative team and uniformed officers and witnesses on the scene who came to trial with very crucial evidence that greatly enhanced the State of Mississippi in prosecuting this case,” Dickerson said. “I remind citizens to be watchful of their surrounding at all times.”