Three people charged with a July capital murder in Starkville were bound over last week to the county court system, Starkville Municipal Court Administrator Tony Rook confirmed Monday.
A judge found there was probable cause to bound Charleka Shanay Brooks, 24, of 182 Pecan Acres, and Milton Jamal Brown, 25, of 1606 Rockhill Road, to the Oktibbeha County Circuit Court system, Rook said. Phillip Thomas Mason, 24, also of 1606 Rockhill Road, waived his right to a preliminary hearing, the administrator said, and his case is also transferring to the county system. Grand jury proceedings will be held in January.
The three suspects were arrested a day after Ellis Wade Bishop’s body was found at the Dawg Wash car wash on Stark Road. Bishop died there after he was shot multiple times.
The alleged were arrested after a joint investigation by the county’s primary law enforcement agencies and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations.
The Dispatch previously reported that the trio’s charges were elevated to capital murder because officials believe the incident occurred during a robbery. A previous Starkville Police Department press release also said drugs were believed to be involved.
Capital murder carries a maximum penalty of death.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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