By By Marianne Todd/The Meridian Star
March 14, 2001
Police who hoped to present a March grand jury with a suspect in the May 17 burning death of Jeanette Young said evidence returned from the Mississippi Crime Lab has stalled the case.
A Lauderdale County grand jury is scheduled to meet Monday.
Young, 40, of 4321 Fifth St., died a day after a motorist found her burning in the 49th Avenue area of Interstate 20. She had been doused with gasoline and had suffered third-degree burns to 98 percent of her body.
Hoadley said in November investigators were awaiting evidence from the Mississippi Crime Lab and from a federal crime lab both of which could influence investigators' confidence in presenting the case this month. Detectives are still awaiting the results of the federal testing, he said.
If information is returned that pinpoints a suspect, authorities may present the case to a grand jury without first making an arrest he said.
Although fewer leads are coming in, three investigators remain assigned to the case.
Police officials have repeatedly issued pleas for anyone with information to come forward. Investigators maintain they feel confident someone who was not associated with Young's death knows of details surrounding the crime, a homicide Meridian police call the most heinous in the city's recent history.
Residents with information can call CrimeStoppers at 485-1860.
Marianne Todd is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail her at mtodd@meridianstar..com.