Tessa Weeks, 36, of 953 Andrew Road, is free on bail after her extradition to Mississippi, but the Oktibbeha County resident still faces a charge stemming from a weekend homicide.
Weeks posted a $20,000 bond Tuesday after she was arraigned in Oktibbeha County Justice Court on one count of accessory after the fact to capital murder.
She was arrested in Wayne County, Tennessee, on Saturday as authorities searched for 38-year-old Terrance Grayer, also of 953 Andrew Road, who was wanted for capital murder, kidnapping and burglary charges.
Oktibbeha deputies were dispatched to 1195 John High Road about 1:45 a.m. Saturday, where they found 30-year-old James Chandler dead from a gunshot wound.
Sheriff Steve Gladney said it appeared Grayer broke into the residence while Chandler and the kidnapping victim were home.
“That’s when he opened fire,” Gladney said Sunday. “Everything was connected. They knew each other.”
The kidnapping victim was able to free herself from Grayer’s vehicle near a Highway 182 intersection, Lt. Brett Watson confirmed, called authorities and provided the suspect’s identity.
A manhunt for Grayer began shortly after and spread to Tennessee, where Grayer’s vehicle was spotted in Wayne County about 5:30 a.m.
Sometime between after the incident occurred and when the truck was observed in Tennessee, Grayer was joined by Weeks. It is not believed she was at the John High Road residence when the incident occurred.
Wayne County authorities attempted to stop the vehicle, when it is believed Grayer forced her by gunpoint from the vehicle and fled the scene.
Law enforcement agents established a search perimeter in Waynesboro, Tennessee. As they began to search an abandoned home, a single gunshot was fired from within.
Grayer’s body was found inside.
Oktibbeha County Circuit Court records show Grayer had numerous charges and convictions since 1999. He had been convicted of two separate cocaine sales charges, while a rape charge was previously dropped.
Grayer was out on bond for two recent aggravated domestic violence charges. He was due back in court this spring.
“You hate for anything like that to happen, but everyone did a good job investigating this crime,” Gladney said. “Everyone was scrambling around that night, and it’s at least good to get to a conclusion on this.”
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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