Son charged with murder of mother

Bryan Lee Wells, 48, of 26 Price Loop, Holly Springs, is charged with the hatchet murder of his mother Kathy Tipler, according to sheriff Kenny Dickerson.

Wells was arrested without incident Saturday, April 8, around 5 p.m. in the area of Highway 302 and Highway 305 in Olive Branch and taken into custody at the Marshall County Jail, the sheriff said.

The suspect lived with his mother and after it was discovered she had been murdered an all point bulletin was issued to locate the vehicle Wells was driving, his mother’s white GMC.

The saga began when Tipler’s sister failed to get a response to a text and numerous calls then she went to Price Loop to check on Tipler’s welfare the next day, Dickerson said.

She rang the doorbell and did not get a response, so she used her key to open the door, then noticed her sister was in a recliner with blood on her arm. Tipler’s face was covered with a large towel, the sheriff said.

The sister called law enforcement and a concerted manhunt followed led by agents with Marshall County Sheriff’s Department and assisted by agents with the ATF, the Gulf Coast Fugitive Task Force, and Olive Branch, Memphis and Shelby County police departments.

Dickerson said the suspect had fled in his mother’s car since his vehicle had been impounded after he was arrested on a driving under the influence charge on I-22 Friday.

The Friday arrest took place after a pedestrian called dispatch to report a reckless driver eastbound on I-22 was seen throwing out beer bottles at mile marker 3.

Officer Devonte Gary responded and found Wells passed out behind the wheel. Well’s car was impounded and he was arrested and charged with DUI and bonded out Friday afternoon, Dickerson said.

Tipler’s sister described her sister’s vehicle that was missing and law enforcement began an intensive manhunt, the sheriff said.

A hatchet, believed to have been used to strike Tipler about the head was found in Wells bedroom, Dickerson said.

Dickerson said Wells is charged with murder but those charges may be upgraded to capital murder.

In 2017, Wells pled guilty to killing his brother Bradley Wells in a house in East Cox subdivision in Holly Springs.

Dickerson said Wells surrendered himself at the Marshall County Jail days following the killing of Bradley Wells and was sentenced to 20 years in prison with 15 years suspended.

Wells served part of his sentence at the Marshall County Jail after sentencing.

Dickerson said the state will recommend Wells be held without bond due to his prior charges, the killing of his brother in 2017, and to the horrific nature of the murder of Tipler.

“It is one of the most horrific and violent crime scenes I’ve witnessed in my lengthy career in law enforcement,” Dickerson said.

Wells made an initial appearance in Justice Court Monday afternoon where the justice court judge denied Wells bond, upon recommendation of the state.

Dickerson said Wells is scheduled to appear in Circuit Court Thursday in Oxford for a hearing regarding a possible parole violation.