Oktibbeha County deputies are investigating the death of a resident after the victim was seriously assaulted Sunday in the Blackjack community.
Coroner Michael Hunt confirmed 55-year-old Alphonso Blair died Tuesday at North Mississippi Medical Center. Results from an autopsy were pending Thursday, but Hunt and Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department Commander Brett Watson both confirmed Blair suffered a serious head trauma Sunday.
OCSD did not confirm many details from the incident due to the nature of the ongoing investigation, but Watson said deputies and other emergency personnel were dispatched to the Blackjack community about 6 a.m. Sunday after a 911 call was placed.
Watson said investigators are talking to persons of interest in the investigation after the victim was assaulted Sunday.
“We do expect to make arrests,” he said.
A last known home address for Blair was not given by authorities.
Anyone with information on this incident or others is asked to call OCSD at (662) 323-2421, Starkville Police Department at (662) 323-4131 or Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at (800) 530-7151.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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